Rhonrhon's travels through her Worlds

What have I been doing?

2012-02-09T18:08:00.001-08:00

I've been finishing a blanket for a 60th birthday present this weekend. It's finished and I must remember to take a photo of it! It is so nice it's a good thing I love the person it is going to because it is so hard to let go of something that has taken a lot of time to complete. But I do love her and I'm really happy to give it to her. I know that it will get some ooos and aahs but no one but me will know how much effort it took! (well, and you if you are a knitter or crocheter)

I've been cooking healthy and interesting. I have been experimenting with low cal and tasty (no sugar, little salt). It's hard but I'm getting there

I knit a ski hat for my nephew - so far I haven't heard if he likes it?

I knit a shark hat for my grandson. I know his mumma will like it!

I've knit a baby sweater - buttons not sewn on yet, two hats, and almost finished with a pair of socks - I guess that's pretty good for the past month of Biggest Loser and Dr Who.

One Two Three Four

2011-12-30T00:36:00.000-08:00

Tell me that you love me more.
I don't feel like talking - I just feel like knitting. I feel like showing you my beautiful hydrangeas, how my dog likes to sleep, my new scarf which is the most beautiful purple malabrigo sock yarn (colour doesn't work so well on my little point and shoot), a hat before it is blocked, mitts for my daughter in law and one sock for my grandson - now back to the knitting.

The Fifth Day of Christmas

2011-12-21T02:02:00.001-08:00

I'm sitting here alone, in my living room, Christmas tree lights blinking and stormy clouds outside my window. I miss my family, some of whom are in the states right now. I look forward to having Christmas with them in the coming years here, where it's warm and lovely on the day. My son, right now, is wrapped up in a winter coat and hat when all he wants is to grab his surfboard and head out for some waves after present opening on Christmas Day. My grandson knows who Santa Claus is for the first time and doesn't especially like him. He has a 'Gaga' (that's his name for me and now it's stuck) who lives in the computer. I long to give him a cuddle and hold him on my lap while I read the Night Before Christmas to him.

I don't really care about Christmas. I like it enough but it's awfully forced for too much liking. To me it is a day to spend with my sons - only one this year but he'll do - and eat good food, special food, that we wouldn't have the rest of the year. It is a time to talk to family and old friends. It is some time away from work and school to reflect on life and get some of those 'Isn't it a Shame' (I didn't have more time) things done. It's my time to go to galleries and exhibitions, movies and out for lunches.

I am sentimental over old Christmas years. I miss my Dad and other good friends and family memebers who have passed away - Dad loved Christmas for the same reasons as I like it - food and family. But as lonely as I feel, as sad as I am that I only get to Skype with my family, I also feel incredibly lucky in my life. I have health, safety, love, freedom, hot water and a toilet, hope, money, food, my eyes, the internet, quiet, independence, books, a creative mind, music, yarn and an open mind. Lucky. I will not take any of these things for granted in the future. I will revel in the fact that I can have a shower every day, go for a walk with no fear, drink clean water, read Salmon Rushdie and speak my mind. I will pay attention and be merry. I will drink a glass of eggnog and toast my good fortune.

Knitting, but not Today

2011-12-04T02:50:00.000-08:00

Last night I stayed up late and finished a beautiful (I hope) shawl knit with beautiful Malibrigo (I know) sock yarn. Today I was going to soak it and block it but I just didn't get to it. Anyone who has knit lace knows that if I post a photo now it will just look like a purple lump of tangled wool. The blocking deserves attention so it will have to wait until next weekend.

Last week I finished one of two socks knit out of left-over stash yarn. I used the Bendigo 4 ply for another project and had bits of three balls left-over so my brother will get a pair of socks. These aren't a Christmas present, just socks. But who wants to post a picture of one sock?

I am also madly crocheting away on the big blanket for my friend's 60th coming up in February. I love the way it looks and it is about 2/3rds finished. I'll be very proud of it when it is done and will absolutely post a picture when it is.

Lots of knitting but no photos.

Today I made some more aprons. I got the pattern from Sweetwater's Simple Home book. I really love this book and plan to make more projects from it.

These are late Birthday presents for two friends in the states. I hope they like them. They were a lot of fun to sew. I have turned my study desk into the sewing table for December and January until uni starts again. I have a couple of projects ready and I also will be sewing some pants for myself.

A couple of weeks ago I sewed a shirt for myself and when I went to trim a seam I cut a huge hole right in the front. I'm not sure how to save it - I was so disgusted I just folded it up and stuck it in a plastic bag to look at later.

I am so looking forward to sewing and knitting with abandon over the next couple of months. I am taking 3 weeks off over Christmas but I am not giving myself any sort of list of things to get done in that time. I always feel so guilty when I don't accomplish all I said I would. I will make a list each morning of things I would LIKE to do on the day, but they will just be suggestions. I'll just see how I go.

Finished and lovely

2011-11-03T02:46:00.001-07:00

These are Embossed Leaves Socks from Favorite Socks. The wool is Socks That Rock and I love it. These socks were an absolute delight to knit and my ball of wool lasted only until the very last stitch. I can't believe that there was exactly the right amount of wool for these socks.

When I got this book I made a promise - well, more like a suggestion to myself that I would knit every sock in the book. I have knit 6 of the 25 in the three years I have owned it. And now I've gone and bought another sock book because I just can't help myself. The Knitter's Book of Socks by Clara Parkes and I will have to knit every one of them too. Lots of socks to look forward to this summer.

Fire Trucks, Star Wars and Baseball

2011-10-28T15:01:00.000-07:00

My Grandson is waayy into Fire Trucks at the moment. Everything in his little world stops cold at the sound of a siren. It's hard to find Fire Truck fabric.

Grandson was introduced to Star Wars by his Star Wars crazy father so ... Thanks Sarah Bradberry for the design, our little Storm Trooper has a Bendigo Cotton cap for winter. BTW he isn't 2 yet and loves the Wookie.

I am a huge baseball fan. One of the only ones I know here in Australia - well, one of the only girls I know. My mother is a big fan too so we Skype about it sometimes. I buy a subscription to mlb.com every year to watch games on my computer. I don't watch too much tv so this is a great time for knitting, crochet etc. And I always have a World Series (I know - it is the worst title for a final since really, it's only the US and one Canadian team in the league although there are mostly players from other countries) project - usually socks. These are Embossed Leaves Socks from Favorite Socks. I'm such a fan of lace patterned socks that are easy but look spectacular. This is a good pattern.

I always worry about running out of wool so I either buy too much or knit short socks. This is a very old ball of Socks that Rock bought 5 years ago in the states so there is no chance of getting more. So I knit part of one, break the yarn, knit part of another, and continue until I run out of wool. This is probably not the most efficient way to do it but at least I will run out of wool at the same spot on both socks if I do. I have some lovely purple sock yarn just in case.

Yesterday's game was the most exciting games I can remember ever watching. Today will be the last game of the year and I won't get those socks done - I have housework to fit in between innings and pitcher changes so I won't have solid knitting time. But I am so excited about this game today - Go Cards.

I mowed and I sewed

2011-10-09T23:21:00.000-07:00

Bush Figs even the birds won't eat - worse luck.

Spring has sprung and I had a mowing frenzy this afternoon. Feels good.

Inspired by my friend Nettie (who knits, sews, works fulltime at a highly stressful job, mothers, grandmothers - all in one life! Inspiring) I got out the sewing machine and made a couple of aprons. My grandmother used to have 'house aprons' that she wore around the house constantly - I have photos. I have made some patterns but these aren't them. A while ago I was given some old dresses that a friend's mother sewed for herself but didn't finish before she died. I said I would make aprons and now I have.

The pocket is the yoke.

I love them but....

2011-10-06T23:29:00.000-07:00

What do you do with the bright hot pink fake flowers you got from your son on mother's day?

I'm a Catherine's Wheel Fan

2011-10-04T01:45:00.000-07:00

I really love Catherine's Wheel - thanks Catherine wherever you are! I just hope I don't burn out and die! The one with the alternate cream wheels is for me. The other for Catherine's 60th birthday next February. I can't believe we are all getting close to 60! I started it well and truly with enough time to finish it and with these cold evenings lasting a little longer it is quite nice to have it on my lap.

It is quite strange that 3 of my best knitting friends have been crocheting lately - all independent of each other. I love it. It's great to mix it up a little. Can't wait till next long weekend to get stuck into Breaking Bad season 3 and Catherine's Catherine's Wheel.

I'm on the lookout for my next project. I have three blankets on the go, so need small things to break up the monotony (IF it all gets boring, which so far it has not). I bought My Grandmother's Knitting (there's a lovely little shawl in there) and have ordered The Best of Interweave Crochet. Fun things to come over summer! Happy Needles everyone.

I have been knitting too.

2011-08-24T17:12:00.000-07:00

But I have also been crocheting. First time for anything other than a border in years. I have always loved this pattern and wanted to do something with it. The only problem is I have to look at it while I do it. Knitting I don't have to look anymore.

These are for my god-daughter's sister. Calorimetry from Knitty.com.

Several babies due soon so I am prepared with two boys sweaters - Debbie Bliss inspired cardigans.

And a new spring jacket for Daisy. Just needs to be ironed and mailed.

And finally for me - Multnomah scarf. Really lovely and I wear it a lot.

I have been searching for another crochet afghan pattern that I like because I have a lot of wool to use up before I can buy more - and I am feeling an urge to buy more. So if anyone has any favourites please let me know.

I've been having some fun sewing.

2011-07-23T01:16:00.001-07:00

A good friend sent me some photos of her darling little granddaughter and I had an overwhelming urge to knit her another little cotton cardigan. This one is a Debbie Bliss wrap around. More pic when it is done.

I have been quilting some, too. I collected this feedsack material over the past couple of years with full intent of recreating my Granny's unfinished quilt. She made it with papers and it is all hand pieced. I just couldn't take on another long-term project so I am making a Wonky Log Cabin Quilt from Block Party. I am enjoying putting this together now that I have more whold days off from work.

I also sewed some aprons. One half apron and one full with a little Collett Dinigan lace off-cut for friends having birthdays. One's been delivered and the other hasn't yet. It's been a bit hard to get to the post office with a broken toe. But my foot is much better now so it will be mailed on Monday. I hope they like them.

Bridal Shrug

2011-07-04T04:23:00.000-07:00

I have had the honor of, again, knitting something for a bride. This is Cascade Yarn's Something Lacy Shrug, knit from Bendigo cotton. This is the exception of the year of knitting for me. In fact, I have right now decided that that rule of knitting only for me this year, is going to be tossed out the proverbial window.

I have enough knitted stuff to last me quite a while. I will knit myself one beret starting this coming weekend when I have some time to go through all of my magazines and books to find the perfect pattern. And I am working on a sock yarn blankie for myself, but then I think it is time to knit for children again. The world is a better place when all of my friends under 5 years old are dressed in handknit garments.

One of my son's good friends, who is also a friend of mine now, lost her dog a few months ago. He had bone cancer and was quietly, lovingly put to sleep. I made her this silly little pin in memory of Moose. He was a good dog.

Bigger

2011-06-19T01:50:00.000-07:00

This was a very easy knit. The main yarn is Bendigo Luxury. The pattern is King of Confidence from Knitty.com. I used 2 balls of Habu A-29 tobi moire, that I bought several years ago on a trip to the US, around the yoke.

The yarn is just too heavy for the pattern - for the larger size anyway. And the Habu, although quite delicate adds weight to the cardi too. It will be great for wearing out on very cold days but I won't wear it for dressing up at all - it makes me look even bigger than I am already. I would try again with a finer yarn someday maybe, if I need another mindless knit.

Now I think I am in the mood for difficult.

Approaches

2011-06-15T23:13:00.000-07:00

I just wrote a little piece on The Approach over at my Bookviews Blog. I am interested in knitter's approaches to new projects. Do you have a ritual approach or do you just dive in without much forethought?

I always read the pattern through and swatch. Usually the knitting goes smoothly but sometimes, even though I've read the pattern, it gets squirrelly on me. I like that about knitting. I like solving problems. I like less the mundane and predictable.

I also love thinking about approaches. Maybe I'll write a book.

Something small

2011-06-11T23:06:00.000-07:00

I got tired of knitting something big.

So I knit something small.

A whole bunch of my son's friends, who I have known since they were 15 years old, are starting families so I thought I would stock up on some neutral baby knits. I'll make them into boy or girl cardigans with buttons. I really love knitting baby clothes.

Contentment

2011-05-31T03:13:00.000-07:00

Today, thanks to a young friend, I got a great lesson. I was complaining about the fact that 3/4s of my family are overseas and I just can't seem to get past it to happiness. My family is really important to me. She said maybe this striving for happiness thing is over-rated. Maybe I should go for contentment. Well, it felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders. I know how to make myself content.

There is no end of craving. Hence contentment alone is the best way to happiness. Therefore, acquire contentment.

If I go for contentment I will succeed and then be closer to happy. Knit, quilt, read, watch movies, cook and eat tasty and healthy food, ride my bike, see my friends, listen to great music and hang out with my dogs.

Table cloth is finished - now time to find the quilt pattern for my feedsack material. I am leaning toward modern quilt style - lots of white. Sigh. Contentment.

Oh, and the pattern for my red and white table cloth is from Modern Log Cabin Quilting by Susan Beal.

Clean or Quilt?

2011-05-29T18:40:00.001-07:00

Well, I could say a little of both but actually there has been a little cleaning and a lot of quilting. I feel a little obsessed. I don't mind feeling obsessed with craft, especially when I don't have any homework to do. I have started out small and am gathering ideas for big! Something to think about besides Othello and ancient architecture (although I am still thinking about that too - so interesting!)

This is my small project - a table cloth.

More Promises

2011-04-26T03:39:00.001-07:00

I had a really lovely day last weekend with Nettie and a another friend drinking tea and knitting, talking about books and knitting, making decisions about life and knitting. I am doing a year of me knitting out of my stash. And the best suggestion of the day for me was knitting the Sock Wool Blanket. I love it. It is fun to knit, doesn't take too much concentration, really colourful and portable (well, right now anyway). It will be my Masterchef knitting for the winter.

And I promise to weave the ends in as I go!

I promised.

2011-04-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

I promised myself that I would finish things. I have the same problem that a lot of people have - I don't always finish things. Sure, I finish my essays because I have a deadline and I need a grade. I finish cooking the whole meal and I mostly finish a book.
But my craft projects often sit by the wayside for way to long.
So! I am going to finish at least most of my projects before I start others - and I have got some great ideas for the 'others'. (I am going to reproduce my Granny's 1930's feedsack quilt that I have the unfinished top of and was told by the expert quilt lady at Addicted to Fabric not to finish or it would diminish the worth of the quilt - whew! I have started collecting material but that is for another blog)

So here are the projects (mostly quilts) that I am going to finish before I start another one - except for the Baltimore Quilt - I gave myself 10 years to finish and that was 5 years ago - five years left (it will take at least 6 months to hand quilt it so that makes it only 4 1/2 years to finish the top!)

Hopefully, soon, I will be blogging about projects that I started years ago - 30 years for the burgundy baby quilt - that are finished.

I changed my mind.

2011-04-10T00:44:00.000-07:00

I have changed my mind about my knitting again.
I didn't like the crochet edge to my Pavement Jacket so I took it off and did an i-cord edge - much better.

I also decided to us this button from my stash for the top feature button on the jacket. It is one that Nettie brought me from one of her New York trips years ago. I knew I was saving it for something special. It looks like a broach.
Also, please, does anyone have any suggestions on what to knit with an angora/nylon blend that sheds something awful. I love the yarn - it is so soft and gorgeous - but I don't know what to do with it. Help!

Mink Pavement Jacket

2011-03-30T23:12:00.000-07:00

I always wanted a Mink Coat - naturally I would never have a real one but this Pavement Jacket (for me!) is knit from Bendigo Luxury in Mink. The pattern is from Modern top-down knitting by Kristina McGowan. The pattern was a little fiddly and it was my first top down knitting experience besides the February Baby Jacket (which was much easier to understand thanks to Elizabeth Zimmermann's easy way of explaining!). Not cold enough to wear but I'm sure I will get great enjoyment in a few months. Now - on to a quilt - I feel invincible!

A Year of Me Knitting

2011-03-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

I've hardly ever knit anything for myself - a scarf, a few pairs of socks, a couple of hats. But for over 10 years of knitting that's not much. Don't get me wrong - I love knitting for other people. Two of my best friends, my DIL, my mother all have knitted sweaters that I think they love. My Grandson and a few of his future friends have baby cardis (I can't stand the idea of children, especially my own grandchild, groaning as their mothers pull a wooly sweater over their little heads which gets stuck halfway over thier faces - remember? And if he says "no, not Granny's sweater' I will cry, so its cardigans for all babies from me). Booties, blankets and bears have all gone to other homes.

So 2011 is going to be for me! I will just think about knitted gaments that I want. I'm going to finish at least one of those quilts that are at various stages of completion, for my bed. And I will crochet some pot holders for my kitchen. I also need a new felted hand bag, thank you very much. I have a 'stock' birthday present project for one and all this year that only takes a few hours to make - and costs various amounts depending on materials - everyone will get one (happily, I hope).

So for now I'm working on the Pavement Jacket from Modern Top Down Knitting by Kristina McGowan. I'm working on the body now - big rows as I am knitting front, back and front at the same time on the long circ. And also knit the Pigeon hat form the same book in a lovely grey 2 ply mix that I bought in the states - now where is that ball band? Its Crystal Palace Yarns - Panda Silk.

I've completed a lovely little scarf in Mini Mochi - Crystal Palace Yarns again.

So far a pretty decent start considering I work and go to uni. I should have a wardrobe to last me years after 2011.

Little Sweaters

2011-02-14T01:14:00.000-08:00

I had the best time knitting little sweaters in December before I went away for 6 weeks to visit my most precious family in the US. I knit nothing while I was there - way to busy playing 'catch the tiger' and 'pop goes the weasel' and reading Hop on Pop and Noisy Animals. But now I'm home and knitting happily away with one of the three balls of wool that I bought while over there (I showed a massive amount of restraint). I am also knitting a jacket - a complicated one - for myself that will take me a few months to finish.

The Jaxon jacket was for the most beautiful 13 month old on the planet - really! and the little white one for Neve - a very sweet baby of a friend. Both were a complete pleasure.

Sweater for Daisy Mae

2010-11-09T18:03:00.000-08:00

A little Bendi cotton sweater for a new little girl. And an old dog who is my heart.

BTW - I have a new BookViews blog - come over and check it out and tell me what you think

No pictures - just books.

2010-10-24T00:47:00.001-07:00

I just remembered that I signed up for a blogish book club a while back and have not posted on it at all. Shame! So... mostly I have been reading Spanish language books which are slow and not very interesting to anyone else but I have read a couple of novels too. I read Great Expectations by Dickens - my first Dickens. It was so much better than I thought it would be when I started it. You get used to the old worldly language quickly and then the quirk and delight of Mr Charles shines through in a big way. What a clever writer. No wonder this book is on the canon list.

I also read the latest Janet Evanovich - Wicked Appetite. Well, it is formulaic and silly. Evanovich can really write in her genre - she is one of the best in the "light-hearted" section of the book store. And there are some classic moments but it is the same old JE without much new. It only gets two and a half stars from me, I'm afraid.

Now I am in the middle of a huge committment 'Fall of Giants' by Ken Follett. Again, it is not very taxing but satisfying all the same - all 800 pages of it. And we are not talking Harry Potter sized pages - these are grown up pages. But it is one of those books that is easy to read but hard to hold therefore not the best bed-reading tome.

I am really ready to have a meaty book that I can sink my literary teeth into so I just got the 2010 Booker Prize winner 'The Finkler Question' by Howard Jacobson from the Public Library and that will be my next read. I am looking forward to it.

Another little fun thing - I won a contest on the ABC - The Books Alive Suggest a Read contest. I wrote a little review of Wolf Hall and won! I was on the radio and everything and Nettie assured me I sounded OK. Well, last week I recieved a box full of the the 50 books that were recommended by Books Alive as the 50 books you can't put down. (Some I can't even pick up!!)(oh, I know, I'm a snob but I am over 50 and I am not wasting my time on bodice ripping romances - sorry!) So now my next to the bed pile has grown considerably.

If you are interested here is the link to my review - Wolf Hall

Happy reading everyone. Rhonda

New Favorite thing to Knit!

2010-09-16T22:24:00.000-07:00

These went to my daughter in law but I think everyone in my life will get a variation for their next birthday/christmas/just-because present!

I might even try to sell some - what do you think?

Lovely spots in front of the heater and in bed!

2010-08-19T23:53:00.000-07:00

Bookclub in Blogland

2010-08-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

I met my friend Nettie not long after I came to Canberra when I joined her long established bookgroup. It was wonderful at the time and I made some great friends. Knitting also became a passion-in-common. Recently she posted about a bloggy bookclub and I love the idea. I am in my second year of part time uni and working part time and I would love a place to discuss what I am reading and see what others are reading since I no longer have the space or time to commit to a regular bookgroup meeting.
My biggest problem with my past bookgroups was I often had to read books I didn't want to read. I admit that every once in a while I didn't fancy reading a book and it turned out to be something I enjoyed. But not very often. I'm afraid that I also was too vocal in the group and felt like I dominated the conversation sometimes. It is a flaw that I have tried to work on. And it used to actually piss me off when half of the members had not read the book. There were plenty of reasons - good and bad - for the lack of reading but it really upset me. Silly on my part, now that I think about it.
Sadly, after I left the book group I never found another that I wanted to join and now there just isn't time. If I take a lit class at school then I do not have time to read a book group book as well.
But never-the-less I love reading, I love learning, and I love listening to what other people have to say about life and books. I have read a lot of books in my life and could never decide on just the 5 I would take with me on the deserted Island. Shakespeare's complete works would have to be one. Tristram Shandy is a close second. But the last three would take so long to decide upon that I would miss the boat completely. I now have an ebook reader (don't worry - I still love the sound of turning pages in my bed at night) and if I could count that as one book I would be a happy girl - there are already 100 classics on it.
So I have signed up for the bloggy bookclub at Krafty Kula.
This month I am reading Great Expectations. I have never read Dickens. Shame! It was never on the list of classics at my school, having grown up in the states. I have not taken any classic lit classes yet and it was never suggested during my bookgroup - probably because you all read it at school. I am in chapter 3 and finding it incredibly clever and witty. Dickens is a wordsmith and a very good one. I love the images of place that are already filling my mind. I love the character development that is already established. And I love his sense of humour. I am starting to understand his place in the canon of classics. Can't wait to read more.
I am also reading the last of the millennium books - the girl who kicked the hornets nest but feeling a little bogged down by it. Will keep reading tho!
Can't wait to hear what you all are reading. Cheers.

Black Hoodie

2010-07-01T19:01:00.000-07:00

I didn't take a photo of this hoodie all nicely laid out on the quilt or hanging on the padded hanger at home like I should have. So just before I mailed it off I asked the mail lady to model it for photos. She is about 12 inches shorter than my son's partner - whom it is made for. But you get the idea. (those are thumb holes in the sleeves btw)
Now the story of this hoodie is kind of funny. My son has decided that his 5 month old son needs to wear clothes that are like his. If my son wears camo cargo pants then Jax wears camo cargo pants. If my son wears a green hoodie then Jax has to wear a green hoodie as well. Well, my son has a black leather jacket with two white stripes on the sleeve so Jax got a black leather jacket with two white stripes on the sleeve with a skull and cross bones on the back. But what about mum? She got left out so.....

Grandma to the rescue (with permission) and now mummy has a black hoodie (not leather but Elizabeth Lavold Eucool wool - lovely to knit with and lovely to feel once washed) so they look like a real tribe when they are out together.

Eucool is part wool and part eucalyptus fiber. I got it in the states on my last trip. And the hoodie is pretty much just knit as I went with a zipper closing (that was interesting!)

I hope she likes the result and hopefully she will send me a proper photo with her in it!

What's better for you?

2010-06-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

The difference between what's best for you and what you want are often oceans wide. I'm not talking about that piece of chocolate at 9:30 at night but real true deep life.
My brother's brother in law just passed away after almost a year in a coma after simply falling off his bicycle. He had a condition similar to 'shaken baby' syndrome. So from far away, I can say it is better that he has died and been taken out of his and his family's misery but it's not what anyone wanted.
How do you reconcile the two.
I have had almost 30 years of trying to come to terms with this dicotomy. I have a son who is disabled and I love him as much as any mother loves their child but is he the child I wanted - plain and simply - no. But I love him to the bottom of my heart anyway. And I have come to a kind of terms with it.
We lived together for a long time and had some joys along with the sorrows and hard times. He lives away now which presents a whole new world of hard (to go along with all the rest of the hard). I have to trust other people to look after him in a way I can't any more. That is best for him and me. Is it what I want - no! It is what is best - yes!
So, how do we find a peaceful place between want and reality? How do we all live in a space where we deny ourselves what we want for the greater good? Nobility doesn't feel good despite what the self help books tell you.
My heart goes out to wife and children right now - and I miss my Dad! Hope you are all happily enjoying your best wishes right now. Peace.

New Camera

2010-06-17T17:20:00.000-07:00

Plus I won an ipod nano when I bought the camera!

And speaking of a joy to knit with.....

2010-05-31T16:46:00.000-07:00

Cashmere and silk wedding cape. Usually it was laced all the way down but she got a little warm by the time I took the photo. It was an absolute joy to knit. I got a knitting patterns book from the public library ( I know - how good it that!) and I can't remember the name of the book - sorry - but I fiddled with the pattern so much that it hardley looks like the one in the book anyway. I knit the light tan in pure cashmere - knitting 8 rows and picking up the stitches from row 1 with row 8 so it made a pleat, and between is two rows of a cashmere silk blend in a darker brown - you can see it slightly on the bottom row. It was a joy to knit and she said it was luxury to wear. (that's a little collette dinigan wedding dress under the cape by the way!). And I noticed lots of wedding guest - friends - absent mindedly stroking the little cape as well. I hope it lasts for as many years as her happy marriage will.

Should we call it the August Baby Sweater down here?

2010-05-31T16:39:00.001-07:00

No - it still looks like a February Baby Sweater to me. This one is for little Neve. No idea where the wool came from it's been in the stash that long. I did the 'is this wool ? test' by burning a little bit of it and it came up wool so I'm happy. It's very bright - hope they like it.

And socks for DIL's mom - Bendigo Luxury - in 4 ply - brilliant for socks and so nice to knit with.

bear, mouse,mouse

2010-05-11T18:12:00.000-07:00

This bear is enroute to my Grandson - bit like Paddinton but not from Patagonia! Was it Patagonia? I wonder what he will name him?
And the mice are keeping him company (they are for my Grandson's kitten's so they will leave his bear alone!)

Six months since I blogged

2010-04-25T00:49:00.000-07:00

Wow - I really thought I would never blog again but I realized I miss it - not that I have a huge (or any for that matter) following - but I love reading other's blogs so I will try again. I love knitting too, so along with work, uni and other committments I want to keep this blog going.

My big news is I have a new grandson. Oh, he is just the joy of my life even tho he lives in another country and I only see him on Skype now, but I was with him on his first day and for 4 weeks after. So knitting has been mostly all about him for the last 6 months but now he is going into summer and I have a couple other knitting projects on the go.

The blanket is EZ's Mystery Blanket knit with Bendigo cotton - big mistake. The blanket is just gorgeous but there are a lot of ends to weave and I am worried about the washing machine undoing some of them. It was a real joy to knit so I'm OK with it falling apart but next time it will be in wool or a blend so the ends felt in. The little sweaters are just my own design and I must say - if you have never knit for someone you love but whom you have yet to meet - you should try it.

My God Daughter is getting married in June, outside in a garden. She has a beautifly sleeveless dress so she needs a shawl/cape. This is a mix of pure cashmere and a cashmere silk blend. How will I ever go back to plain old wool again? Hee hee! I'll post a photo of the finished and modelled finished item.

And socks for my new DIL's parents - shush - don't tell.

Nice to be back - Adios!

Schools out for Summer!

2009-11-16T02:40:00.000-08:00

There hasn't been much knitting for the past year in Rhonda's house. I've been busy studying but now I have three months to catch up and knit some things for my grandson!

But first, Barbara had a big '0' birthday so she got a tea cozy from Wild Tea Cosies by Loani Prior. It was pretty easy and turned out really cute. I think she liked it.

And I have started EZ's Mystery Baby Blanket for Junior (that's what my son is calling him for now!) I'm making it out of cream cotton 8 ply. (this picture is pretty fuzzy - oh well, I'll try to get a good one when it's finished)

And the obligatory booties. I make three in case one gets lost. If Mum hates them, well, she will have to hate them a little longer but if she likes them then it's really nice to have a replacement. And it is easy to knit a third. These are from Debbie Bliss but I don't know which book - I copied it out of one I had from the library.

And I am catching up on novel reading, gardening (although it still looks terrible), and sleep. Hopefully I can catch up with friends too (and blogging!) Adios!

Knitting for the GrandBub and Emma

2009-09-06T16:00:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about having a grandchild. I never imagined how happy it would make me and how complete my little wee family would feel with one on the way - I can't imagine how it will feel when he comes into the world.
In the meantime I found the perfect thing to do with all the sock yarn I have - a biggish stash - well, compared to some of my friends it's really small! But I still have sock yarn that I love. Now I can knit baby vests with the two balls that were previously destined for my feet.
This is Maisy corn fiber yarn bought in Seattle years ago.
Look at this precious ribbon from Cassidy's - with little foot prints.

Perfect for tying up the little kimono style sweater.

And another little cardi. Both are Bendi 4ply cotton - so nice to knit with. I think it will be nice to dress a new little baby in white - they can't ever wear it again once they start eating, really.

I have another project started for GrandBub and now that it is semester break I will try to work on that one too. I still have an essay and a presentation due the first week back from break so I will be busy but I need to catch up on some movies and knitting as well. Priorities!!

The picture of the presents for Emma didn't load so I'll save that for another day.

Guess who I'm knitting for.

2009-08-08T16:06:00.000-07:00

I could not be more excited. My first grandchild! I have about 30 garments to knit before January so can't talk now - must get to all the lovely little knitting - ooo it is sooo fun. (not to mention the three essays and one oral report due in the next few weeks!!)

Renaissance ribbon.

2009-07-17T01:55:00.001-07:00

My lovely friend Barbara went to NYcity and brought me back a little present (I get good present when dear friends go to NY!). This is 3 metres of poly-satin ribbon with knitting instructions. How cute is it?

Now I just have to find the perfect project to use it in - any suggestions?

I can't help it.

2009-07-12T23:07:00.000-07:00

A few years ago when Nettie went to NY city she brought me back two glorious skiens of Koigu Merino sock wool - way too good and special to put in my shoes so ....
I made them extra long to go over my fingers if I want - the colour in the photo does not do it justice at all but I have a little camera that takes not-so-great photos.

And I couldn't help showing you the Tangled Yoke cardie worn by it's owner. Isn't it lovely. Don't be afraid of it - not that most knitter aren't intrepid - but just saying - it wasn't too difficult at all. And look at the results - wonderful.

Tangled Cable for a friend

2009-06-29T03:27:00.000-07:00

About two years ago I told my two of my oldest girlfriends (oldest meaning I have known them for a long time - not that they are old) that I would knit them sweaters. This is Shirl's. She hasn't seen it. She didn't pick out the pattern. She told me the colour she would like but she didn't approve the wool - which is Bendigo. It's a big gamble because it won't fit me (way to small) if she doesn't like it.

But I like it. A lot. And it was a fun knit. I did dedicate a whole Sunday to knitting the tangled yoke. And it took the whole Sunday - I'm not a fast knitter.

I will try to get a photo of it on her as soon as I block it and give it to her. Cross your fingers and bite your toes she likes it!!

Oh, and by the way, have you seen the new stamped envelopes at the post office? Aren't they great.

Husky cap and mitts

2009-06-08T03:36:00.000-07:00

Go Huskies! The Huskies is the name of every sporting team from the University of Washington in Seattle. People in the know call them the Dawgs! The Husky softball team (women) are the 2009 national champions. My brother gets season's tickets to the men's Husky basketball team games every year. And the most thrilling sporting event ever was the Husky football game I went to with my brother where we sat in the 101st row of an outdoor stadium called Husky Stadium. In Seattle there is Husky stuff everywhere - even the best ice cream in the world comes from a deli called Huskies and is called Husky flake!
I bought this sock wool in Seattle about 4 years ago and yes, it is the Husky colors of purple and gold. I've looked at for a really a long time but didn't want Husky socks so....

I knitted Husky mitts and a Husky hat. No one here will know anything about the UofW colors but if I wore these in Seattle everyone would instantly know that these were their favourite college football, basketball, softball, rowing, baseball, whatever, team's colors. I just like them.

You know what else I have in my stash? Seattle Mariner's colors sock wool too! And I don't want to make socks out of it either. I wonder if it will take me 4 years to decide what to knit out of it?

Study break and a cup of tea.

2009-05-02T19:41:00.000-07:00

Life has been busy - fun, sad, up, down, in and out. Not much down time in the past few months but I feel good about most of it. Now I have a load of clothes in the washing machine and a cup of tea by my side and a blog entry to write.

I've had a day at the beach - it was lovely as usual. Everyone has a day at the beach and everyone has a great time (except the windy rainy days, of course, but even then there is knitting and reading). But my day was gorgeous and sunny and warm.
There has been some (not much - and I am slow) knitting in the past couple of months. A pair of socks knit in acrylic yarn! Not like me at all but I got this yarn on the advise of my mother on my last trip to the US and it was a good choice. It wasn't 'squeeky', it is soft and lovely.

Now, the proof will be in the wearing which I have done once. I will get this yarn again next time I am over there.

I also knit a straight garter stitch shoulder shawl. An old boyfriend's mother (Helen) who taught me to knit continental style and on a knitting machine, had a little shawl like this that just sat on her shoulders with the points just resting over her bosoms that she wore all the time, and I always wanted one. (I think I knit one when I was in my early 20's) It isn't big enough to keep your whole upper body warm but it is wonderful for my neck and shoulders (again with the shoulders!) cozy in these semi-cold nights at home. And it stays on all by itself with no pins or constant tossing over the arms and no trailing in the water in the sink when washing hands - bonus! Again acrylic (no there's not a pattern emerging - I am still a wool snob) from Lincraft.

I will make another or two for winter - especially nice for bed with a hot water bottle on the small of my back and a book in my lap.

There was another kooky scarf for Rachel (oldest son's girlfriend).

I won't say it - but again not natural fibre (I don't have anything but wool, silk, angora and cashmere in my stash now so that's it for the plastic stuff - I promise)

My little cashmere mitts that I have worn twice - how cold was it over Easter?? The only problem is they shed on my black coat! It's a sacrifice I am willing to make.

And the big project started over Easter - Shirl's sweater (the next two are going to be for moi!) Eunny Jang's Tangled Yoke. I have some trepidation about knitting this with Bengdigo Rustic even tho the colour is exactly what she wanted. But I have decided that if the cables don't work properly I will just make it into a fair isle round collar - maybe Bohus style. The wool is very loosly spun - and I don't really have enough experience to know whether it will work or not. I'll hope for the best at any rate.
Cup of tea's been drunk, blog's been wrote, washing machine has stopped spinning and books are calling. Adios amigos!

Hockney Nichols Canyon Road Pillow

2009-02-27T01:32:00.000-08:00

Life continues to be a bit crazy and busy in my world. But I did have a lovely weekend down the coast with the girls (and their birthday presents). The Hockney Pillow was a hit, only because she is a big fan of his (not sure what he would think but he will never see it so who cares really).
(yes,they are in their pajamas - how else would you take a photo of pillows?)
We drank Hot Toddies, ate great Thai food made by our host, watched movies and talked all the way thru them. These girls are my heart friends so for me, it was just a great comfort to be in their company for two days straight.

I didn't take a very good photo of C's pillow on its own but - well, I'll show it to you anyway.

University has started and I have had four tutorials (hola chicas!) and one lecture. I'm busy already reading books for class so there hasn't been too much knitting and none to show. I'm also in the middle of another pillow - I'm addicted. Eek!

Squares and Hats

2009-02-15T01:57:00.000-08:00

First of all - this is a very cool present my friend Eileen gave me - it's a quiver! It's old and fragile and very cool - I will put my favourite dpns in it.
I've been in a hat mood for some reason... can anyone guess why? It got cold and made me start to think about Winter. I'm not complaining because I am a winter girl. Last Fall I knit a lot of socks, this Fall will be hats.

An acrylic (yes, really! I have never knit with acrylic yarn before!) hat. It's not from a pattern - I just knit as I went. It's Lincraft yarn 'Surprise'. The proof will be in wearing. I just liked the colours.

This is Maizy - corn fiber yarn. I really love the colours. I had a vague memory of this pattern from somewhere but I just sort of put this together as well. Often my off-the-cuff patterns don't work out but a hat is not such a big committment if I have to rip, if I screw up.

On to a more important message. Corrine from Thicket is organising knitted blankets for the Victoria fire victims. I have a special motive to tell you about this project because when my son's house burnt down in the Canberra fires the wonderful quilters and crocheters of Australia made him a quilt and a crochet blanket that is still his cuddle blankie today. I really can't explain how wonderful it was to have something made with pure love to give him when everything he owned was gone.

I haven't asked Corrine if it is OK if I put her email on my blog so I am just going to say that she is asking for woolen squares and if you would like to contribute please email me and I will send you the details. rhonich at gmail dot com

Honestly, it is such an easy way to help but believe me, from one who has been there, these handmade items are treasures that people will keep forever, to remind them that the whole of the country was thinking of them. Dry goods, toilet paper, showers and soap are all very important in the immediate and all of those things were appreciated. But the thing that touched my heart deeply was the lovingly made quilt and the blanket.

Another Van Gogh

2009-02-05T04:29:00.000-08:00

A while ago, in response to Pay It Forward, I had an idea to make a pillow out of knitted fabric that I could embroider on. I love knitting and I like embroidery. But now I absolutely adore embroidering on knitted squares.

This is the VG Starry Night pillow that I sent to Olivia. She blogged about a few weeks ago - luckily she liked it.
This is VG Sunflowers close up. It's for another friend whose birthday is tomorrow. She doesn't read blogs so I am safe posting about it here. It was great fun to make, again!
I love the whole 'painting' with fibre thing. BTW this pillow was stuffed with a towel and will look a lot better tomorrow when I buy the insert on the way to deliver it but, well, I wanted a photo before it goes to live in it's new home.

I have already started the next one and have the idea for the one after. I'm happy!

LEARN - maybe that should have been my little word!

2009-01-28T14:26:00.000-08:00

The best thing for being sad, replied Merlyn, beginning to puff and blow, is to learn something. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honor trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then--to learn. ~ T.H. White

I've been offered a place at the University of Canberra - eek! Never thought I would be saying "it's time for school" in my house again, but never say never, hey?

But actually going to school better be easier than enrolling in school or I am doomed already!!

On the knitting front not too much has been done as I have been busy reading Wally Lamb's new 700 odd page book. It's from the library so I only have three weeks and I haven't learned how to read and knit at the same time yet.

I just can't seem to stop with the fingerless mitts! I figured out how to knit them all on 4dpns with no sewing up (yes I am sure there are patterns out there but I didn't have one) only sewing in the ends to do. It's a bit fiddly as at several points you have to knit fingers around 3 dpns with 4 dpns, but so worth it for not having seams - well, worth it for me.

I have lots of bits of sock yarn left over so I might keep going for a while - I'm enjoying it and with the hot weather I don't want lots of yarn in my lap.

Well, back to reading..no, knitting...no, reading...no, knitting.....

Finished and ready to send.

2009-01-23T01:21:00.000-08:00

Dawndra's mitts are now finished so I will send off the stack of knitted mitts next week to keep my son's and his friend's hands warm and toasty - hope they like them!

A mitt stack!

Fresco for a freezing girl.

2009-01-18T01:57:00.000-08:00

These are for one of the girls. I have really enjoyed my first try at stranded knitting. Now I am looking forward to trying some more fair isle. (you have to focus on what you are doing with colour work) Another pair, in red, are already on the needles.
Pam Allen's Fresco Fair Isle Mitts in Fall 2008 Interweave Knits.

Two down, two to go.

2009-01-13T00:21:00.000-08:00

Since I started knitting again about 4 years ago, now I have really loved to knit anything for my family and friends. I've knit sweaters for my youngest son, sweaters for friends, scarfs, shawls, socks and warsh cloths. And I loved ever stitch of it.

My oldest son has received knitted hats and scarves - all of which he has given away. Now I raised him to tell the truth gently. I always told him he didn't have to do anything he really didn't want to do. Not things like not get up for work because he stayed up too late the night before but things like if he didn't like what I cooked for dinner he didn't have to eat it. If he didn't want to do something 'everyone else' was doing he didn't have to. If he didn't like a present I gave him he didn't have to say he did. As long as he said he didn't want to do it with respect and kindness. Fine.

So, he hasn't wanted me to knit anything for him - ever. His explaination is, and fair enough, he doesn't want me to go to all that trouble making something he might not like. I appreciate that. So for him to ask me to knit him some fingerless gloves makes my heart soar. The fact that he asked me to knit some for three of his friends and his new girlfriend makes me even happier.

It's way too hot to model them. But they are going somewhere cold right now so I made them double thickness. And they are quick and fun to knit. I am so tempted to embroider something on the knuckles of the grey ones. The coloured ones are Kaffe Fassett Regia sock yarn and Patons Bluebell.

These grey ones are knit double strand from some wool I bought at the Trash and Treasure at Jamison years ago - very soft.

Now I am going to go thru the stash to pick yarn for two more - for the girls! I'm having fun. I'll start the next pair during the 20/20 cricket tonight (more like baseball and I like it - surprised me too!)

Cheers

Pastel Day

2009-01-09T01:35:00.000-08:00

I really love Gardenias. They are so lush and creamy. They smell like Heaven - well, my Heaven anyway. I'm sure that when I die I will be surrounded by the smell of these lovely flowers.
This one is from the plant in a pot at my front door. I realized I need more so next paycheck budget will include two new Gardenia plants for the back door too.

Finished are some plain Jane Tofutsi socks for me! I really like the coolness of non-wool socks for this time of year in the evenings - like tonight. It is cool enough for socks and a shawl tonight and this feels better to me.

Cheers

One little word.

2009-01-02T01:14:00.000-08:00

FOCUS

I really like the idea from Nettie and Hashi about having one little word for 2009. Focus is my word.

“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.” - Qui-Gon.

This will be my year of focus. Focus on learning. Focus on my fitness. Focus on my surroundings. Focus on my loved ones and not on those that don't care about me. Focus on my spirituality. Focus on creativity. And especially focus on what's best for me.

Thanks Nettie, for this day of introspection and decision. It feels good and fitting for the beginning of the year.

Cheers

Happy New Year

2008-12-30T22:58:00.000-08:00

Most of the crafting happening in my house over the last few months has been secret squirrel stuff. But there is a little to share.
This is how we have spent a lot of our Christmas holiday. My youngest son who has given me several sleepless nights is responding really well to new medication and is making up for lost sleeping time. Me too!
Mom's Hemlock finished and mailed only too be opened on her 80th birthday in Jan. I made her promise not to peek!

I would absolutely knit another one someday.

I sewed together a quilt for another present. It is a Jan Mullen inspired top. I have a little bit more to sew up and it will also go. I really love the feeling of making things for people I love.

I got the best Christmas presents this year - most all had to do with tea. Now, I did not announce that I needed or wanted tea related gifts but I am so happy I did. I got two tea pots, a Floating Tea Egg and thr grooviest tea cosy - don't you think?

And I have been embroidering some tea towels for me to adorn my new kitchen. I also love to make things for myself!

So, the rest of my work break will be sleeping, reading Diana Gabaldon, watching movies (both Slumdog Millionaire and Frost/Nixon are recommended highly - Twilight not so much), crafting and wishing us all a peaceful, loving and adventurous 2009. Cheers!

I put up the tree.

2008-12-18T15:17:00.000-08:00

Somebody close to me told me I should put up the tree - so I did, and I'm glad I did. The house looks festive now. Like I've said in other posts - I'm not a big 'Christmas' girl but I don't mind a festive house. So I strung the boughs with bits of frosted fruit, gold ball, jingle bells, and lights, waited until dark and plugged it all in. Taa Daa!
I also put some clove and vanilla oil in the oil burner to make the house smell festive and OK, I did bake some Snickerdoodles too!

I also finished all my Christmas knitting and gathering and wrapping. I know I said all my friends would be lucky to get a kind word from me this year, but when it came right down to it, I couldn't do the 'no presents' thing. So I knit and gathered and wrapped. It feels nice to give - lifts my spirits.

It's snowing hard in Seattle and looks like they may get a White Christmas! I am so jealous. Chestnuts roasting, hot mulled cider, sleigh bells ring and all that.

A trouble shared...

2008-12-10T13:00:00.000-08:00

A trouble shared is a trouble halved, a joy shared is a joy doubled. I'm sure I've heard that before and it is so true. Thanks for all the lovely words and emails. Feeling alone is a scary thing that just makes troubles feel much much bigger.

Now I feel like sharing a little bit of joy - look at my raspberries! I'm so impressed with these plants. They are survivors. I have neglected them really badly and look what they give me. The sweetest 'I forgive you' fruit. Even the the little green worm tasted sweet (Ahem!)

I am still a little freaked out at the hard road ahead. But if there is sweet fruit and friends along the way, maybe it wont feel quite so hard.

Not in the mood.

2008-12-08T02:32:00.000-08:00

After some more fairly devastating family news this week all the omph has gone out of me. I'm not in the mood for anything - not knitting (all I do is sit and think), not reading (can't concentrate), certainly not going to work (people are there) or doing anything around the house. So I am indulging in nothing and Christmas will just have to come and go without me this year.

I did go out into the country this weekend - isn't it lovely?

And a old pretty cemetry - all near Gundaroo.

Maybe I need a more 'active' form of creativity to absorb me - so I don't have to think - like painting? What do you do when you don't want to think for a while?

On the first day of Christmas.

2008-12-02T01:05:00.000-08:00

My son, who is in the states told me.."it doesn't feel like Christmas when it is so cold!" Ha! for me it's just the opposite. It doesn't feel like Christmas because it is too warm. Frosty the snowman would melt before the first verse was sung. Going out to see Christmas lights in the neighbourhood with singlets, thongs and ice blocks is just wrong. Chocolates are melting under the tree!
Don't get me too wrong though. If I had to pick, I would go for the hot Christmas. Going to the beach, eating Mangos, pottering around in the garden and having a bbq is really nice. But I miss the knitted mittens, flannel jammies, snow and hot mulled cider.

Christmas knitting should be done in front of a crackling fire, with hot cocoa in hand and fluffy slippers on feet. But never-the-less I am getting into some kind of holiday spirit. I will bake Snickerdoodles and gingerbread. I will put up the tree. I will organise the office Christmas party - whoa- what?

Somehow I managed to offer to organise the OCP! Oh, well. Trivia games, pool, Secret Santa, catered food and lots of beer and all will be jolly - ho ho ho!

And I will keep knitting till Christmas is nigh!

I liked Nettie's so much....

2008-11-19T18:12:00.000-08:00

...that I decided to knit one myself. Although I don't think Nettie has blogged about hers yet, she has inspired me to knit the Hemlock Ring blanket. She even downloaded the pattern for me. It is for someone very special who is having one of those big '0' birthdays early next year. Luckily Nettie also gave me some DVD's to watch and you know how well knitting and Pride and Prejudice go together (the Colin Firth version, of course).
I'm knitting it with Bendigo Alpaca - Natural Cream. I am using 4mm needles even tho Brooklyn Tweed uses 6mm. I knit a swatch with 6mm and the knitting just looked too loose and well, like it was cheap. I can't really explain it. It was like I should have been knitting with 4mm needles and I tried to make it all go quicker by using bigger needles. It just looked like a cheat to me. So even tho it may take me longer, I like it better.

Also I finished Bella's fingerless mitts. My mom gave me the pattern and she got it from the ladies at Tricotte when I was there last September. A trip to Seattle requires a trip to Tricotte - honest. We both bought a skein of Socks that Rock - only one skein - honest again!

These are knit with Bambino and they are darker, richer purple than the photo. You'll have to squint and imagine.

Hooray!

2008-11-05T01:13:00.000-08:00

I bet on Honolulu!!

2008-11-04T02:10:00.000-08:00

The Melbourne Cup was run today - the race that stops a nation. First I bet on Yellowstone (cause I've been there) and he was scratched. So then I bet on Honolulu (cause I've been there too) and that horse was the last horse to finish the race. Oh, well, I guess my one day a year of having a punt should involve a little more research then 'cause I've been there'.

This is my Cleo Knitted Collar knit with Jo Sharp wool bought from Thicket - a most lovely online shop. Wool, patterns, and lovely customer service. I only bought two balls of wool but I will buy more from Corinne (the owner) when I need more wool - big Ha!

The button was given to me by Nettie a few years ago after she made a trip to New York and gifted me two beautiful wooden buttons. I haven't washed or blocked my collar yet so it looks a little uneven but I just couldn't wait to show off the button - its perfect and I am going to make another one for the other button. Gidy up!

Slower than molasses in January!

2008-10-26T15:45:00.000-07:00

My Granny was a great one for 'sayings'. My favorite was when she would tell me about the 'loving cup' we all carry around with us. When we do good things our cup fills up...etc. I know it sounds old fashioned now, but as a kid, I loved her stories and sayings.
But now, my computer is losing the plot - thus the 'slow as' saying. It is acting as if it's feet are mired in mud and I expect a squelching sound when it tries to move from one screen to another. I think I have used all it's juice this month already. Probably due to those baseball games I have been watching!
So, shhh, but I am loading this at work today, because it has been ages since I blogged and I miss it. Not that I have that much to show and tell.
I had to laugh at myself last night as I was settling down to my real work after my chores were done. I had three - count them - pairs of specs in my shirt front. One for DVDs, one for reading and one for close up work. Normally I can get away with two pair but I am doing some finer embroidery work at the mo. It isn't too fine but I use my Daddy's reading glasses every chance I get so... Notice they all have browny reddish frames so I have to have glasses on to see which ones I need. Oh, I just try them all on one at a time and see what I can see. It works for me.

And one of the reasons I wanted to do some embroidery was to try out my new thimble. I am a thimble girl. I like having my fingers covered but I don't like the cheap ones you can buy at the cheap shop. First of all they stink after one wear - I guess my finger tips sweat too. And they have no give. I've tried leather ones, plastic one, all kinds of homemade jobbies. But I found this wonderful silicon thimble in the US and I love it. It even has a little air hole. Anyone who does needlework should try it out.

And finally - my first pair of two circular needles socks. They are knit with KnitPicks sock wool, which is very soft and lovely to work with. It was much easier for me than 4 dpns. I have already cast on for some fingerless gloves for someone special and two circs and it is going fast and swimmingly.

By the way - that's my new kitchen counter top showing under my socks.

So - back to work now - well, not my real work - the work I do 2 1/2 days a week somewhere where I get paid - and not for blogging. Please, don't tell.

My Dogwood is blooming.

2008-10-07T03:21:00.000-07:00

I planted my Dogwood tree over 10 years ago when I moved into my house. This is the first year it has ever bloomed and it is really beautiful. This morning I just stood outside and stared at it till I had to get into my car and drive to work. I really love it.

Oh, and rootbeer cupcakes with rootbeer frosting.
I squished the edges putting the lid on the cake tray!! Ooops - I hope noone cares.
And carrot cupcakes for Sean's birthday at work tomorrow.
I told ya I was a baking fool at the mo. Just can't help myself. I'm making everyone else happy but there is a lot of washing up to do!

I've been knitting, baking, and watching Lost.

2008-10-04T00:20:00.000-07:00

I have been baking like a fool since I came back from Seattle. I've been baking cakes, pies, baked oatmeal, and cookies - chocolate chip mostly. And mostly I have been sharing with friends because otherwise well, I will eat it all myself! Not good.

My comfort food has always been home baked goodies and I guess I have been needing comfort food lately. I still seem to be so sad but my friends all tell me that is normal. Not sure that having an almost pathological need to bake is normal tho. Oh, well.
And I have been knitting and watching Lost every evening. I am up to the middle of the second season now. What the hell is going on? I'm loving it.

Marjanne is getting these socks because she is my heart friend and I love her.
I can't find the ball band - I think I bought this wool up in Sydney at Tapestry Craft and my even have blogged about it. I'll look later. It was nice to knit with and I made little cables down the sides. Simple and easy and good Lost-watching knitting.

I finished the Wildfoote socks too. They were almost done and the pattern was also easy - from My Favorite Socks - Mock Wave Cable by Ann Budd.
And I am teaching myself to knit on two circular needles. This is Knitpicks Kettle Dyed Yarn - Go With the Flow socks. So far I really like knitting with two circs and the Knitpicks yarn is really soft and lovely. I left a couple of balls with my mom and she has made some socks that she really likes too so when she is ready to order more I'll get in on the Knitpicks order. Lucky me!
I decided that 2009 (which I am kindof starting now) will be my year for trying new things - rather, not knitting anything that I have knit before. I need challenges and my knitting is going to be one of them.

OK - I'm off to the kitchen to put the cupcakes in the oven. And there is disc 4 of season 2 and some brown socks to knit on.

Mom and I sat and knit together almost every afternoon while I was in the states. I didn't realize how much I would miss that while I was there, but I do miss it a lot. I miss my son. I miss my mom and my brother. I really miss my Dad. Boy do I need a cupcake.

Seattle, Hood Canal, Roslyn

2008-09-09T10:03:00.001-07:00

Weekend before last I spent the weekend with my girlfriends and my son at my friend's cabin at Hood Canal. I go here for a weekend everytime I come to Seattle. It is one of the most relaxing places on the earth and the best company. My friends are loving and generous and I love it here. But what ever you do, don't tell Tyson and Barkley that I hang out with their dogs too.

There were 6 more but there isn't time for all of them. Amelia the Basett and Moose the Ridgeback cross were the quietest and thus the easiest to take photos of. But this was one time where I really did want to spend more time with the humans than the dogs (for me, often, it's the other way around).

I had a great week after the cabin 5-day weekend I had dinner with friends, stayed a couple of days with my son (and made homemade chicken stock which ended up the base for lentil soup - best ever!) shopped with my mom for a new sofa, and went to the golf shop. Now, going to the golfing store for me is like my son going to the yarn shop. Man, there was only golf stuff and nothing, nothing that could even resemble anything knitted or knitable. Luckily for me, son has grown up enough to know he needs to pay for stunts like that so he took me for a vietnamese sandwich and to the book store for a browse. I bought him The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao and had a lovely lookround.

On Saturday after second nephew's soccer game, my brother and first nephew and I went up to the mountains to my brother's place for the weekend. Along the way we stopped to watch the Husky's (University of Washington's gridiron team) game at a sports bar with 30 TV's! Really! and 25 of them were tuned into the Husky's game. Wow - it was big.

So a burger and couple of beers later....

I kid you not - this IS the life. We slept, we read, we ate, we swam, we lounged, we did nothing. There is a spa there but my brother forbade me to go anywhere near it. This is a resort where he has built himself a holiday house - a resort with ALL the amenities you can imagine. Oh, and this place is right next door to Roslyn where they filmed Northern Exposure all those years ago.

So this is my last few days here. I have restrained myself from any shopping. No books, two magazines, one skien of yarn (socks that rock!), a small parcel from KnitPicks that has not arrived yet, and one new pair of shoes. I've made up for the lack of shopping by eating - I am going to have to do more than run around the block when I get home. Oh, well - who cares, right?

So just a couple of little things - there are still drive in hamburger joints in Seattle. Yes they deliver your buger, fries and Cokes to your car on trays that fit on your open window - just like in Happy Days.

And they give you coffee cup holders on the shopping trolleys - HA!

America - you gotta love it (except for the politics which is all anyone talks about and is very exciting, confusing but exciting)

Seattle too.

2008-09-03T18:36:00.001-07:00

I went here....

to see this...

(Mariners vs The Twins at Safeco stadium - notice the exellent seats we had!!)

I went here....

to see this...
and this...
with my nephews and my mother - what a great day. We took a water taxi across Puget Sound to the Seattle Waterfront and had fish and chips on the pier.

I went here...
to see this....from here.... Another great day - I had a smoked salmon chowder that was really wonderful - good enough to match the view.

I went to the Triple Door to see her....

I have listened to Karla Bonoff all my adult life and she still sounds like she did in the 70's - honestly.

And I knit this....

What a pleasure it was. I spent almost as much time weaving in ends as I did knitting but I loved every minute. And thankfully, Harper's mom loved it too - along with the suri alpaca vest and socks knit earlier this year.

I will post photos of my weekend tomorrow - don't want to make you too jealous all at once!

Seattle

2008-08-29T16:48:00.000-07:00

I'm back online finally - Mom's computer spat the dummy as soon as I got here so it's been until today before I could post anything.
Well, it's been a sweet and sad time but I've had some fun too. Been out and about lots in the past week and I will show you some photos in a later post of where I've been. The weather has not been that great - rained the whole second week of my visit - but, hey, this is Seattle. But it's been cold - down to 10ish over nights and not past 22 all week, a little warmer today. So much for my jealousy tan.
There has been knitting. Girlfriend's granddaughter needed a new cardigan. Lovely Bamboo/wool mix. Look at all the ends I have to weave in - whatever was I thinking? FO next post.

And of course the 'thank you' gifts knit on the spot. Hey, Sugar and Cream cotton at $1 a ball is fantastic. And the yarn shops - well, we have only been to three so far - I'm trying to limit myself and I just can't help but buy stuff when I go inside. I made a big order on Knitpicks this morning and there is at least one more shop I need/have to go to but then I might stop there - help, I dont' know when to stop!
And of course there has been food - really really good food.

Dungeoness Crab

The best Pizza slice I've ever had with really good coffee. (Bakery Noveau)
Followed by serious chocolate cake that I have been dreaming of (seriously) for the past year. Can you see the little chocolate square with the bakery's name on it?
Carl's ciopino. (Oh boy, this one was one to savour)
And Garlic Fries at the baseball game. Real potatos and lots of garlic.
OK - I think that will do for now (there has been more but I don't want to overload you too). I'm off for the long weekend with my girlfriends. I'll talk to you more when I get back.

Thank God for knitting!

2008-08-10T04:27:00.000-07:00

I have had one of the saddest weekends of my life this weekend. I lost my wonderful father. I am on my way to the states to see my beautiful son and the rest of my family and go to my Dad's memorial. I already miss him terribly.

And through it all - I knit. What a comfort. I knit socks. The pattern is not difficult but just enough that I have to pay attention. And when I don't feel like doing anything else it is just the right amount. I can't imagine what I would be doing if I wasn't knitting. Thank God for knitting.

Project Completed!

2008-08-03T03:29:00.000-07:00

Hiya
I've been working on these baby jumpers for so long - I feel a bit all at sea now that they are finished. They have been knit, sewn up, washed and are drying like good little jumpers. I can't wait to send them off to their new little owners - hopefully I will get a photo of them being worn to share with you. I really enjoyed knitting them.

Now I need to find something to start knitting that I will be happy to leave behind in a few days when I leave town. I'm not taking knitting with me - shock, horror. No, I will pick up some needles from my mom and head straight up to the LYS for some new and groovy sock wool. I will need something over there that will be easy to knit with no pattern, and mindless and meditative. Straight vanilla socks are it. Can't wait to get there - I am so looking forward to seeing my family.

Olivia was the only one to respond to my Pay it Forward offer - no other takers?

Pay it forward.

2008-07-27T01:48:00.001-07:00

I had a lovely afternoon today with my girlfriends - just a ladies lunch at a friends house. There was soup, really lovely antipasto pasta, chocolate cake, fudge and chocolate covered ice cream balls, wine, tea and some knitting. One friend is a crocheter and she made some lovely cushions- no photos as I forgot my camera - so you'll have to take my word for it.

Knitting - I am almost finished with the three little wee jumpers and will finish them this week, wash them on the weekend and mail them next week. It is way to boring to show you a picture of them again, but that is all I am working on. I've been keeping busy with other stuff too - like cleaning out my house so my friends who are going to look after my dogs while I am overseas won't get the shock of their lives when they open the door to the back room.

But this post is about a lovely little project I am partaking in with Nettie - Pay it forward. Maybe you have already heard of it or taken part in something similar already, but if you haven't maybe you would like to sign up with me.

It works like this. The first three people to sign up with me will recieve an Rhonda-made something (?) within the next 12 months. And then you pay it forward to three someones who sign up to pay it forward to someone else. What a lovely concept - how can I resist. I will love thinking up something wild and wonderful to make for someone. I love the idea of making something for someone 'just because'. And I love the idea of sending a present to a new friend for no reason other than they said they will do the same. Cool.

You know, if everyone who plays this just gets three people to play in the next twelve months I reckon 1,594,323 people will get a handmade gift in the mail. How happy will that make the world? (that's 3 to the power of 12!)

If you want to continue the game just leave a comment. I'm with Nettie tho - it will be a little embarrasing if no one reads my blog and therefore no one signs up but, well, at least I tried, hey?

Babies everywhere but not in my arms.

2008-07-16T04:40:00.000-07:00

I'm doing heaps of baby knitting at the mo. I haven't met these babies but I am knitting away for them anyway. I've modified designs of little sweaters for some of them - two the same in different colours for sisters and one for their brother (they all have exactly the same birthday!).
And one - brightly lit - for another who lives far away. I love the colours but not so much the increases and decreases. They are much more forgiving in wool - and I think I may be doing them wrong. I'll see how it looks once it has been sewn up and washed, hey? And cute buttons may make a difference too.

But my knitting is not bringing me as much pleasure lately, as it usually does. Usually I can bliss out knitting for a couple of hours with music, tea, a movie, a book on dvd. But for some reason (well, I know the reason), I have had an extremely short attention span and low tolerance levels. And, of course, I am reading a 500 page book, knitting two pattern jumpers exactly the same, performing a very routine schedule at work - I'm not sure why I do this to myself. I went to see a silly movie this afternoon and almost left half way thru - I never do or feel like that.

I'll fix a bit of this by going home to Seattle in a few weeks, I hope. At least I can be a bit proactive over there, instead of just worrying. And I will get to see and hug and talk to and laugh with my beautiful son for four weeks too. Maybe I may even get to do a little bit of yarn shopping. And there is that bakery near my folks!

And I will get to look after my lovely, very sick father for a bit of time - and my saint of a mother. I will feel better when I can do all that!

4th of July - yes we have one too!

2008-07-04T02:26:00.001-07:00

Every year, on this day when I talk to my folks, my Dad asks if we have a 4th of July in Australia. Every year I say 'no, Dad, it's America's Independence day' and he laughs and says 'well, what comes between the 3rd and the 5th?' It's not funny the second time, but the 30th time... well, we both just crack up every year. I love our little silly traditions.

When I was a kid 4th of July was huge. Dad had the day off work so we would usually go to a Rainiers Baseball game if there was a day game. Then a picnic at Green Lake followed by fireworks (oooh. aahh!) Then home for ice cream and bed. There was mom's fried chicken which was unbelievable, potato salad and jello in red and blue with white cream. Honesty who wouldn't love a holiday like that. What a family! What a country!

Now, I don't miss 4th of July, just my family. I miss them a lot, especially this year.

But in sentimental tradition I went to Aldi and bought some Al's Ribs (the name is just so American - plus my older brother's name), cooked them up and watched the replay of the Mariners Game on my computer. Not Quite the same thing - but the ribs were good.

Can you notice that my silverware has little balls of wool on the end of them? Well, they look like balls of wool to me!

There has been knitting. I have been comissioned to do some knitting for some small people. I am knitting with 4ply from Bendigo. It's nice to knit with but a bit splitty. I would like it to be plyed a little tighter.

Lot's of moss stitch.

I really like knitting for little people - it's so nice to see something come together quickly.

And look at this little present from a friend. I'm not sure why I would want to type in the dark but now I do want to. I like gadgety things.

So, happy 4th Dad, Mom, Son1, Bros, Nephews, SIL, Carl, Bruce, Soo, Marj, Gary, Barb, Betty, Connie, Carol, Aunt Nornie, Aunt Nea, Sonia, and all the rest of my family. I love you all very much and I miss you heaps!!

HI Mags!!

Two year shawl!

2008-06-25T15:26:00.001-07:00

A little over two years ago, in my very early knitting life (I still consider myself in my 'early'
knitting life compared to, say, my mom), I decided to knit a shawl for a friend's birthday present. How hard could it be? I'd knit a few things before and even a little lacey stuff, so I went in search of a pattern.

I found one in a vogue magazine. Lovely lace, warm, wintery shawl. I'm not a lace sort of girl. I like solid, classic, colourful, layers...but not pastel or lace. But my friend, well she is a sort of lace type of girl. So I checked out the pattern - Deborah Newton's Lace Wrap in Vogueknitting Fall 2005- a nice combination of lace and solidity. I rushed up to Cassidy's and bought 10 balls of that beautiful NZ merino/cashmere that was on sale earlier this year for $2 a ball!! which I bought for $10 a ball!!! and began to knit.

Now, as I am an Aries (not that I believe that stuff!) I am really good at planning grand schemes, starting them, and then letting them fizzle because who can pay attention to the small details when there are grand schemes to plan? This is my life lesson - to pay attention and be conscious all the time. Stop! I'm talking about the shawl right now.

I was going to knit this sucker in one month and have it ready for the birthday party - which was her 50th by the way. I started on straight plastic needles and I was sooo slow. I had to read every line of the pattern and mark it off. I photocopied the pattern 12 times because I wrote on it so much I couldn't read it after about two repeats. I never got the flow of it.

Well, two days before the big birthday I ran over to Manuka and bought the most gorgeous big bug brooch with colourful paste jewels all over it and gave that to her for her 50th birthday present and put the shawl in a bag in the top of the stash silo.

A few months ago I found it again. Somehow one of the plastic knitting needles had snapped off - surprise! Half of the stitches had fallen off and the rest had stretched out. Now, that I know a tad bit more about knitting I decided this shawl was too beautiful to sit unfinished in a bag in the dark. The yarn is so soft and lovely. The pattern was, now, easy to remember. And I have discovered, and use almost exclusively, circular needles. So, out the whole thing tumbled, stitches were ripped back a bit, circs were inserted and I knit.

Now, I am especially pleased that I did not finish this in time to give it away. I love having it around MY shoulders. I even fell asleep in it the other night and it almost strangled me (but that is not the shawl's fault - my menopausal sleep patterns make for much tossing and turning in the night).

I love that it is mine, all mine. I can see myself as a old woman sitting knitting great grandbaby clothes wearing this cashmere shawl. I really truely am in love with it and I'm going to keep her!

Knitting - the universal language.

2008-06-20T05:24:00.000-07:00

I had to go see the Doc yesterday and, as usual, he was running a bit behind time. Doesn't bother me cause I'm not in a hurry on my days off. I pulled out my sock and started knitting a few rows. A man in his 70's who was also waiting asked me what I was knitting. "Socks" I said and held it up for him to see.

Well, he told me his lovely story about how his Mum knit him a pair of socks every Christmas until she died when he was 17, and he still had one pair that he took out of his drawer and put on every time he missed his Mother.

He didn't want to wear them much because he wanted something that she had touched for the rest of his life.

By the time he finished telling me this both of us and a couple other people had tears running down our cheeks.

I got some bad news about my Dad yesterday morning and he has two pairs of socks that I knit him last year that he loves and he can wear for the rest of his life. How nice is that!

Don't let anyone tell you that knitting doesn't matter or isn't important for the other people in our lives, as well as for our own peace of mind and sanity!

I finally finished my shawl and I will take a photo after I block it tommorow - it is really nice and I love it!

I did knit myself a winter hat that has received more compliments, out in the world, than anything else I have knit. It wasn't even a pattern - just knitting until it fit. It is Malibrigo, though, and I am having trouble taking it off!

Safe Asset Socks

2008-06-05T04:38:00.000-07:00

Last year when Kaffe Fassett was here last year to plug his latest quilting book his partner introduced him as 'Kaffe Fassett which rhymes with safe asset". He was great fun, by the way, for a snob.

When I was in the states I bought 100g of two of Regia designer balls of sock wool- the colours were picked by Kaffe Fassett. Really? You just pick colours and get your name on stuff?

I like them OK - but these will be for a friend, as they aren't really my sort of colours. It is also a little scratchy. I must admit that everything but my Malibrigo vest feels scratchy next to the lovely alpaca that I just knit.

But they are uniquely coloured socks at any rate.

Special Baby present

2008-06-02T05:21:00.000-07:00

My parents live in the house that I was born in! That is over 55 years in the same house. Amazing! Everytime that I go to visit them I also get the bonus of visiting my three very first very best girl friends - all of whom I've known since I was 14. We were the fearsome foursome. I've known their lives for a very long time. They all still live very near my parent's house. I am the only one that has ventured far away from home. I've been in their lives for boyfriends, husbands, parents lost, husbands lost, children and now, for grandchildren. In fact this will be the first grandchild. She is due in July.

This sweet little vest is knit with 120 gms of suri alpaca bought at the Alpaca Show at Epic a few weeks ago. It is the softest wool I have ever knit. And I think I met the Alpaca that gave it up for me! I wish you all could touch it and fondle it. mmm...soft. I want a sweater out of it too!

Enjoy baby girl! (I want one of those grandbabies too!)

PS - yes there are three socks. I had enough for a third one so I just knit it. I guess babies lose socks to the sock monster too so an extra one may be needed.

Hey did Tom Cruise name his baby after an alpaca??

Thank you

2008-05-28T04:45:00.000-07:00

I think thank you gifts are kind of tricky. That is if you really do want to thank someone, and it's not just a gesture.

First you want to make sure you give them something they will like. If they hate your thank you gift, chances are they won't offer what you were thanking them for again.

If you go over the top, then the person you are thanking will feel bad that they didn't do enough (I know I have!).

If you underwhelm them with your gift they might think you are cheap and there could be the same consequence as the first senario.

If you know the person you are thanking very well, then there isn't much of a problem, you just have to think and observe.

If you don't know the person well at all, then the gift takes a little more thinking and a little more effort.

I'm making a mountain out of a dish cloth, I know, but I care about these things.

I hope they like them and I hope they know how much I appreciated their hospitality (which was overwhelming, by the way) Thanks again.

Velvet Grapes Vest

2008-05-23T02:28:00.001-07:00

I finished my Malabrigo Velvet Grapes Vest. At the moment it is my favorite piece of clothing that I own. It is so soft. It is warm. It is so wonderful to wear that I can't take it off.

Can you see the colour change half way up? You can't see it so well with your eyes but the flash really brings it out. I guess I just got a skein or two that were a different dye lot even though the tags say they were all dyed on the same day 10-4-05. But like I said in a previous post - it doesn't bother me.
Now I have enough for a hat and a scarf or wrist warmers left over. I'm a little afraid to knit them for myself because I will want to wear the hat and scarf all the time too and well... I guess you can imagine that look as well as I can. But, I don't want to give the wool away either because I love it too much. Dilema, but fiddle dee dee, I will think about that another day.

I have five WIPs now. I hardly ever have that many projects on the go at once but each has a purpose or a problem. I have a shawl that I need an edge pattern for (I don't like the one that came with the pattern) and I am searching. I have an important baby friend on the way. I have a thank you gift to finish and two pairs of socks on the go - one complicated lace and one straight knitting for the trip to Sydney. And I don't know which to knit on now? How do you decide which project takes your fancy at a particular time? I want to knit them all right now.

I think the thank you gift needs to be the next FO.

Sydney to see the Archibald Exhibition

2008-05-19T04:09:00.000-07:00

What a great weekend! I was off to Sydney on Friday to see the Archibald Prize winner - actually I couldn't even look at the winning painting it was so creepy - but the exhibition is an annual event for a friend and me. We go to the Art Gallery and walk around on our own for about an hour. Then we come together and walk around again and compare notes. She awarded the prize to Rodney Pople (again) for his self portrait and I gave it to Alexander McKenzie for Sarah Blasko. The painting of Heath Ledger was very disturbing - technically brilliant - but very sad.

Anyway, we stayed in Maroubra. Lovely beach, still, calm and quiet. We stayed with really lovely people who treated us like royal visitors - it's been a long time since I was treated so well. And the spaniels were delightful. Oh, I musn't forget to mention the visit to Yarn Addiction in Bowral on the way through. LOVE IT!

Early Saturday morning we sat on the steps of the Art Gallery of NSW waiting for the doors to open trying to beat the crowds, and we did. There were a lot of people with canvases and paints waiting to get in too. We didn't really look for them afterwards to see what they were painting and now I am left wondering a little. I would like to be them spending the day painting.

The fountain in the Sydney Hospital is delightful. I've spent a lot of time in hospitals with my son over the years, and I would have liked this fountain to sit by. It's also on the shortcut way to the Lindt cafe where we had hot chocolate and lunch. Have you been there yet? It's in Martin Place and it is to die for!

My friend shopped - and since I'm not a shopper I sat in Pitt St Mall and listened to this man who had the voice of an angel - really!

We had take away Lebanese food that was really yum. We had great coffee. We shopped and bought at Tapestry Craft (and saw women giggling, a lot, over a intermediate class in increasing, decreasing and reading a pattern class - I really wanted to join in).
And across the street from where I stayed was a little gnome village. They were playing statues everytime I looked but I heard them giggle as soon as I turned away.

It really was a great weekend. And I want another one soon.

What to do with a very expensive single skein?

2008-05-14T23:37:00.000-07:00

When I was stateside last year I bought a lot of yarn! And now that I am going to knit through my stash, my mind is always thinking, seeking, watching, imagining what to do with all the skeins of yarn that I have. Three of linen, four of bamboo... And I am keeping a little notebook and writing down ideas.

Enter my very expensive skein of Blue Heron silk and rayon twist yarn. It is absolutely stunningly beautiful in my eyes. But, what to knit with it? I am totally into scarfs but this shouldn't be a long skinny scarf. It should be a very special scarf. So out came all of my books, magazines, and downloads from Knitty, etc. Elizabeth Zimmerman to the rescue. In particular, the pi shawl. I've watched a couple of bloggers knit this lately and it seemed perfect. Easy and plain enough to show off the colours and sheen.

And I love it. Look isn't it pretty?

I have some very soft cream baby alpaca and silk mix that I think will be another one of these.

Now, Nettie look away.

Tonight is Nat's going away party and Pat's birthday party so I made something special to take.

This is what 12 ounces of Lindt Chocolate looks like ready to be...

This - Chocolate Cinnamon Tart. I put lots of cinnamon in it.

I'm going to smother it with cinnamon whipped cream. If it works I'll let you know. If it doesn't we will never speak of it again!

She loves it!

2008-05-04T02:19:00.001-07:00

I can't believe I don't care!

2008-04-27T03:57:00.000-07:00

I am knitting something with my Malabrigo that I brought home with me from my trip last year to Seattle. The colour way is Velvet Grapes. I started out knitting one thing - didn't think the pattern was up to the wool so I changed. I'm pretty sure that this will be a vest but I will see how much I have left, if I can put sleeves into it.
It is an absolute pleasure to knit with - really!! And I can't believe that I don't even care that the front and the back are so different in colour. I still love it and love knitting with it. It is soo soft and I won't want to take it off, whatever it turns out to be.
And because I pulled a muscle in my neck and needed to knit small - there is a new pair of Trekking Socks. They are very soft too. I wore them today with my slip on clogs and had to take them off because they were just too hot on my feet. It's not cold enough for me to wear woolen socks yet. But these will get plenty of wear when Winter is really here.

And - I am reading a Stephen King novel (Duma Key)- for the first time. I have never read anything by Stephen King because I am such a lit snob, and I can't believe that I don't care.

Now Nettie...

2008-04-15T01:08:00.000-07:00

Now Nettie .... you have to take a couple of things into consideration. OK?

First - you work a full time job. I work very part time.

Second - you have a grandbaby and a larger family here to pay attention to, than I do (except on Saturdays and the occasional phone call to the US which I will not knit through).

Third - you have a significant other. I don't!!!

And I don't clean my house, mow my lawn, brush my teeth or sleep. Hee hee.

Anyway, I did finish (all except for the buttons, of course) my Baby Surprise Jacket. What a knit of faith. For a while I tried to figure out what I was doing while I was doing it, and then I just let go and knit the instructions. It was liberating in a way. I loved knitting it and it kept my attention the whole time.

I'm not really fussed about the yarn I used. It was some Bendigo something that I dyed ages ago and didn't use it for whatever I dyed it for - duh! But I know that it is machine washable because I do remember I tried to felt some of it and it didn't. Felt, that is. And I ran out right at the end so I used some denim for the button band. It worked out just OK for me.

Anyway, I liked it so much that I will make another one for my gf Soo in the US who is about to have her first grandbaby. I've started looking for the perfect yarn for it - in my stash of course.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I can't wait to see how yours turns out.

At last.

2008-04-12T04:56:00.000-07:00

I found the buttons for the cardigan. The moment I found them in MY OWN STASH I knew they were the ones I wanted to sew on. I salvaged them from something, I can't remember and for me, they are just right.
Now, I have 3 sets of 5 buttons that I will have to find yarn to knit something that they will go with. Bother!!

And Munchkin got his Cobblestone Pullover today. He likes it. And it fits him pretty well. It's a little short in the body but it still looks great on him. And it is surprisingly soft since it was washed.

Good wearing, sweetheart.

On the needles - my first Baby Surprise Jacket. What a treat so far - a real knit of faith. Nothing makes sense so far but I am enjoying it.

Presents

2008-04-06T21:14:00.000-07:00

My little brother sent me a birthday present. Now that might not seem odd to you. Your extended family is supposed to recognise your birthday, right? And I am so far away and don't get to see them all very often - once every couple of years, so they should send me presents.
Well, my brothers are boys - enough said! (I don't have any biological sisters) And after years of not getting any recognition that I turned another year older I decided to take matters into my hands. I know they love me but birthdays and other dates just don't register. And because I am not there to hassle them weeks before hand I always send them an email the day before my birthday to remind them to send me a happy birthday email tomorrow. Since I started this they have never again missed my birthday - they are good men.
But this year my little brother remember well in advance and sent me this...

Doesn't mean anything to you? Well it does to me. But even I have to wait for the full story because he is away from his phone for the next week and he didn't want to spoil the surprise by telling me ahead of time. I can't wait to hear it. I know he didn't steal it, that's all I know.

But, I also sent a present. This shawl that I knit ages ago. I just blocked it and sent it off to munchkin's day activities school Sharing Places - to auction for a fund raiser. It is lovely and soft - cotton and silk. And long - very long. Hopefully they will get a bit of money. It was knit from
Wendy Knits pattern - the Fir Cone Wrap.
It was very easy and nice to knit. I hope someone loves it.

I feel kind of out of control with all these buttons..

2008-04-05T00:24:00.000-07:00

I do feel a bit manic about this button hunt. I even went to look in the shop that I said I would never set foot in again in all my life - in Queanbeyan - and found a 'maybe'. Wishy washy me. I want to go to the button shop that Bells went to in Sydney.
You know, I hardly ever shop. I can barely walk into a Mall. The other day I went into Civic to go to a bedwear sale at Target. I walked out with two pairs of sheets (yeah, I wanted them!) and a Single Bed Doona when I thought I was buying a King. Luckily I can give the doona to Munchkin. But now I have to go out into the Retail World, again, to get a doona. Yikes! I am just not into shopping at all. I hate to window shop, I hate hate to shop with anyone else, and I hate other shoppers when they are shopping. I know hate is a big word but I am so paranoid that that is how I feel.
And unfortunately, I have to go into shops to look at buttons. So I guess I am behind the 8 ball from the very start.
Anyway, do you think this button is better? I know the photo is a little blurry again - can you squint?

I am going to Nettie's tomorrow and will ask help from the girls. I know it is ultimately my decision but help is always welcome.
I don't usually have such a hard time finding the perfect thing. Has anyone ever tried to make their own buttons? Mmm..now the brain has another thing to think about!
By the way - another perfect day in Canberra. Just right for a day outdoors and that was me!!

Buttons again.

2008-03-30T02:52:00.000-07:00

This one?
or this one?

I don't usually have this much problem deciding on things. But I don't know which one looks best. I'm not even leaning towards one or the other. And this is all after an hour at Addicted to Fabric sitting in front of all their wonderful buttons.

I would like to decide before I give it to the owner. And her personality isn't really one or the other either. I'm seeing some of my knitting friends next weekend so I guess I will ask their opinion and then see how I feel.

Hope you all had fun in the dark last night! I turned everything off and looked out my window -every neighbour had lights on and every street light was on! Really disappointing. But glad to see a lot of others in Canberra did the right little thing to help our planet's resources. Cheers all!

Munchkin's Cobblestone Pullover

2008-03-28T23:16:00.000-07:00

I finished Munchkin's sweater this afternoon. I like the finished sweater but it was boring as bat droppings after the Nantucket Jacket. Usually I like something a little less complicated after a project that I have had to pay attention to, but this was too much of a less complicated thing! Anyway, it's finished and I know it will stand him in good stead for one of his winter garments. He isn't hard wearing on clothes, but stuff has to get washed a lot - so it's knit from washable Classic from Bendigo - in Denim Mix.
I'll wash and block it tomorrow and give it to him next week, see how it fits, then I'll take a photo with him in it.
Now, I want to knit something for me!

Kat's Hat and tears!

2008-03-21T01:59:00.000-07:00

I have a friend who has a birthday coming up and with the day so cold, I thought I would start a hat for her. So, after an early morning trip to the airport I put on a DVD and pulled out some old wool. I don't know where this wool came from. I don't have any lables anymore. But it is nice and soft wool, so perfect for a warm red hat.

Well, I thought I was just going to watch a little more of Love My Way and knit some on a hat. Have you seen this series? I have seldom seen anything so devastating. I don't think I have cried as much watching TV ever! I could not stop watching it, I could not stop crying and I could not put down my knitting. It's 8 hours later now and I still feel so emotional. This is a really excellent show but if you watch it, be prepared for it to break your heart.

But there is a little red hat out of the whole ordeal....

And I think she will like it. I started off with a plan but lost it some where along the way and just let my fingers do the knitting.

Now it's back to the cobblestone jumper (boring round and round) and the rugby. I hope this jumper fits my young lad because I won't knit this again. Really - it's 16 inches of straight knitting - and that's just the body - the arms are just the same straight knitting. But I will persevere.

By the way, Olivia, the Nantuket Jacket is Filaturea Di Crosa Zara - the same wool every knitter in Canberra will have a garment out of thanks to Cassidy's great sale. I was at the very end of the sale so thankfully, missed out on a lot of the deals. I have enough to keep me busy for a very long time without more temptations now (seriously limited budget at the mo!)

Happy and a little sad.

2008-03-15T17:05:00.000-07:00

This is a new one for me. I actually feel a little sad that Cathy's Nantucket Jacket is finished - all but the button shopping (which I am looking forward to!) and sewing on of. I am usually really happy to finish a project.

Maybe it's because I had to fiddle so much with the pattern to make it the right size it was like I'd put a bit more of myself into the making than just knitting it ('just' she says!!)

Maybe it's because the knitting of this jacket saw me through a bit of a bad patch for me - but believe me, it has nothing but good vibes attached to it.

Maybe because I am giving it to someone else to wear - even though that person is my sister in heart and I would do anything for her.

Maybe because I just loved knitting it.

But I feel a bit sad that the journey is over.

But believe me, the 'happy' is the bigger part of the completion. I can't wait to give it to her and take a photo of it on it's owner to show you.

Sorry - the photo is a little blurry but I'm not going to take another one 'til it is completely finished and on it's master.

Even now, the next day after the needles are back in their holder and the yarn ends have been collected from the living room floor, I am hankering for another big project. I guess today will be the start of the Cobblestone pullover for Munchkin.

Knitting for the traveler.

2008-03-14T04:33:00.001-07:00

What do you knit for a young friend who is going traveling for 6 months, going into summer, with limited backpack space?

I must admit I saw these online, somewhere, a long while ago - don't even remember where, but I have knit a few and they are always a hit.

Good way to use up those left over bits of sock yarn.

Mmm - wonder what else I can knit a sock for?

Knitting a sweater.

2008-03-09T00:10:00.000-08:00

Most knitters that I know, in person and in blogland need to have a few projects on the go, a few projects ready to start and several projects in their mind or they feel panic and distress. They also need to have a few books on the nightstand or they feel naked and vulnerable. I guess I am the same.

But I have been concentrating mostly on my Nantucket Jacket and I am not a very fast knitter so it is taking me a long time. I have finished the back and one side, working on the other side. And loving it! It's an interesting knit, challenging enough but not stressful.

Along with knitting mostly one project, a trip to Melbourne, dental surgery and a new tenant, I have been blogless for a while.

But now there are these.....

Lovely Evelyn Clark 'Go with the flow socks' - second pair out of Favorite Socks.

And this - another hottie bottie cover for a birthday present for a friend.
With i-cord buttons. I like them.

Now back to my lovely sweater! See ya.

Mom's Penoka Squares

2008-02-16T00:25:00.000-08:00

Like I said in my last post - this is a real fav in our family. And any time I make it and take it anywhere it is a big hit. A story that I have heard from some Canadians is that 35 years ago a woman from Nanaimo, which is on Vancouver Island, entered this recipe in a magazine contest and won. Now the town of Nanaimo claims the recipe and uses it as a real tourist thing - printed on tea towels and aprons, etc. When the mayor of Nanaimo held a Nanaimo Bar contest in the 80's there were over 100 versions of the bar recipe entered.

Now, in New York they call it New York Slice, in Australia I have heard it called Continental Slice. But in our house they are called Penoka Squares.

My parents moved to Seattle in 1952 where my Dad had a job with Boeing - he had just graduated from University of Colorado with degrees in Engineering and Management. He had scoped out the city a few months before my Mom joined him, and he found a little house in West Seattle to rent while they looked for a place to buy. Across the alley was where Lynn lived. She and my Mom have been friends for 56 years, but now Lynn has alzheimer's disease and doesn't know who my mother is - it's very sad. Anyway, she gave my mother her secret recipe for Penoka Squares, well before a woman from Nanaimo won any contest so... I'm sticking with Penoka Squares as the original name for this desert.

I'm pretty sure there is town called Penoka in Alberta - and I know there is an apple called a Penoka?

As I said before, it was always my older brother's birthday cake. Bytheway, my younger brother always gets Boston Cream Pie for his, and my fav is my mom's pumpkin pie - no one wants cake!

Mom uses bitter chocolate in the topping and now - thanks to Lindt so can I!! Bitter Chocolate is just 70% or more.

Penoka Squares
Melt : 185g or butter and 100g of dark chocolate over hot water. When just melted stir in one lightly beaten egg stirring constantly till mixture starts to thicken. Take off heat and cool for 5 mins. Stir in 2c crushed biscuits (I use wheatmeal or granitas)(graham crackers if you are in the states), 1c coconut, and 2/3c chopped pecans.
Press into a 8x8 pan and put in the fridge till cold.
Middle filling : Cream 60g softened butter and 1teas vanilla. Slowly add 2c powdered (icing) sugar, 2Tbls custard powder (Bird's Eye is best) and 1/4c milk.
Put into the fridge till cold.
Topping : Melt 60g dark chocolate and 15g butter over hot water. Drizzle over the custard layer and smooth out with a knife.
Put it back into the fridge till cold.
It goes soft if it is out of the fridge for too long so make sure if you are taking it somewhere that it is not hot.

I hope you love this as much as I do - and everyone I have ever made it for.

Proud Day!

2008-02-12T23:24:00.000-08:00

Dreams really do come true!

Thank you Prime Minister Rudd. This is the first step to healing for the original people.

I don't think I can say it better than some of my fellow Australian Knitters: Olivia and Bells. I hope it's OK with you that I link your names to this blog!

But, now for something a little lighter and not even of any importance but I promised so....look mom, what I made.

Penoka Squares (known to most Pacific Northwesters as Nanaimo Bars) - a family staple in my growing-up house. My older brother's birthday cake of choice and a fav of everyone I've ever made it for as well. Thanks Mom! I love you!

I know it's too hot for one - well maybe not!

2008-02-08T01:53:00.000-08:00

I have a bunch of Aquarian friends so I have a bunch of birthday presents to deliver this month. So I bought wool, I dyed wool and I knit hot water bottle covers. I know it's still to warm for some of you to have a hottie in your bed (some, I know, already have them in their beds!) but who doesn't want a beautiful hottie bottie cover for when Winter does make us pull our doonas out of the hall closet and snuggle up at night?

And they are good knitting for DVD nights - don't take much paying attention too. Knit in the round and self covering buttons. Lots of fun to make. So all my friends will get these this year.
Next year I'll have to come up with a new February knit - I look forward to it.

PS - I didn't dye the one in the middle - but you knew that!

Nantucket Jacket

2008-02-05T01:53:00.000-08:00

This is the third time I have started the Nantucket Jacket from Interweave Winter 2006. Yikes!

I found the yarn at the Cassidy's sales - not for me, mind, but perfect Cath colours and she loves it. I let her pick the pattern that she wanted from all of my books and magazines. She liked this one because it had no 'basque'!! I have never heard of ribbing being called basque before but we looked it up and - yup, it's a word for the bit below the waist.

So I swatched like a good girl - went down a needle size. OK, all is well. Knit three inches - too big by miles. What the? Frogged.

Swatched again - went down another needle size 'cause I could. OK - knit three inches - still too darned big. Nantucket was beginning to rhyme with a word I said out loud several times. Frogged.

Swatched again and did some math! No way does that gauge match the cast on number of stitches. I checked Ravelry to see if others found the same thing. Some did, some didn't. I got confused.

So I ammended the pattern and Cast on 100 instead of 120 and I've knit three inches - so far so good.

I like the pattern a lot. It is the perfect pattern to listen to a audio book - you don't need to look at the pattern all the time but for me, it needs more concentration than a movie will allow me. I need to look at the knitting. Listening to Four Spirits by Sena Jeter Naslund - so far both are great!

Too hot to quilt

2008-01-23T22:52:00.000-08:00

Look what the lovely Jejune sent me in the mail - all because Vogue Knitting has featured her art work in the latest issue - congratulations Jejune, but really, I had nothing to do with it! Hee hee! Thank you very much - I love them all so much. I am going to send a couple of the cards to my Mom in the states as she likes them too.

And, I have come to one of my senses - there are still several more to go - and put the quilting away again. Even though it is not over 30degrees C at the moment, it is still to hot for me to quilt. All that fabric in my lap was too much. And several times an hour I take my own little private trip to the tropics so that doesn't help.

So, back to socks, which I think I am permanently and hopelessly addicted to. I will let the angora stew till I get a few personal issues sorted out and just knit on other projects. This is old wool that I have had for a long time and don't even know where it came from. Old fashion green but nice on my Knitpicks dpns.

The pattern is easy without being boring - Evelyn Clark's Go With the Flow Socks (so appropriate for my life at the mo) from Favorite Socks. For me, knitting is like reading. When all is well in my world I love a really complicated book. When things get a little hairy I like to read something lovely and simple. At the moment that is Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox (one of my favorite writers) and Evelyn's socks. Lovely and simple!

Can't knit (sob) Can quilt!

2008-01-17T02:39:00.000-08:00

Today I got so depressed and discouraged - all out of proportion, I admit - about my angora vest that I couldn't bring myself to knit. Sigh! I felt really sorry for myself and couldn't even look at my beautiful yarn or pick up one of my WIPs. Tearily I walked into my craft room and out again several times until I spied my son's quilt that I started 3 years ago. It's not very well sewn together. I didn't take enough time getting all the points to match. But I love the Japanesy feel of it and I started quilting it again. Really, it is very satisfying for me tonight - soothing. I've decided how I will quilt the rest of it and now I am excited about it.

Only one problem. I used the material that I was going to use for the edge binding to sew up my Patchwork Purl SoHo tablecloth (I forgot about the quilt at the time). So I have a little problem but I won't get to binding for a while so I don't have to think about that now - fiddle-dee-dee!

Ripping is learning!

2008-01-16T02:50:00.000-08:00

Tonight I was going to finish the front, sew up the seams and have a new angora vest! I did finish the front and sew up the seems. Tried it on - fit like shit! I'm a big girl so I put some extra in the sides. Looks like crap! Changed the neck front from the pattern. Looks bad!

So tomorrow I will rip out about 10 cm of the front and back and sew it up again and try it on. This is all my learning process from my new year resolution to try more difficult things. Ripping is learning - right? I'm going to get Nettie to help me decide what to do with the neck! I need some help and moral support.

But my rockin' socks are a great success. I love them. You know, I wouldn't spend $20 on a new pair of socks but I think nothing of buying sock wool for that price. I guess I am more a process knitter as opposed to a product knitter.

New Year's Plans

2008-01-12T03:19:00.000-08:00

I have been knitting for a couple of years now. I have been a lucky girl to have knit with all kinds of yarn. I've knit with softest merino wool and scratchy cheap wool. I've knit with cotton, bamboo, corn, tofu, shellfish, plastic and silk. I'm knitting with cashmere. I'm knittting with angora.

I don't pretend for one minute to be an expert on fibre by any means. But at least now, when I read about a blogger's project I can imagine what the yarn is like. And that increases my enjoyment of reading blogs so much. I can imagine what that soft sock yarn feels like when someone is knitting a lace sock. I can imagine what those cashmere wrist warmers feel like as someone slips on the finished pair. I can imagine how that silk slips over the bamboo needles, and how that linen hurts the knitters fingers while they knit.

The more I knit the more I can appreciate other's knitting.

This year I am going to take on more difficult projects. I'm no Yarn Harlot or Eunny Jang - not even in the same universe. But since learning more about fiber this past year has increased my enjoyment of other's knitting so much, as well as my own, learning about pattern should do the same.

Here I go - first projects are a lace shawl and a vest from Vogue Knitting Never Never Land.

Cashmere merino mix.....
Angora.....

Wish me luck.

Scared of catching SSS

2008-01-10T16:32:00.000-08:00

When I first started knitting socks, I read so much in so many blogs about Second Sock Syndrome that now I am scared to catch it. As soon as I graft the toe of the first sock I cast on the second sock. I just continue to be in love with the colourway or lace pattern or whatever attracted me to start the socks in the first place.

I have come very close to suffering SSS when I came back from the states in the middle of last year. I started a pair of socks for a GF in Seattle while I was there, fully expecting to finish them before I came home. Right! The first one was done, the second started. I packed them in my suitcase full of new wool and forgot about them when I got home. I had made up a little pattern and I couldn't remember it when I finally found the lone sock. So scared of SSS am I that instead of sitting down and figuring out the pattern again - I ripped. I dampened the wool (corn actually - it is Maisy) and it sits in my stash again. I am pretty sure that it was the coward's way out but I don't care.

So earlier in the week when I felt the need for socks (when it hits it is worse than my craving for Sammy's Calamari or dark chocolate M&M's!) and I got into my state's stash for sock yarn and found Socks the Rock (oh,no, I've lost the ball band - it's around here somewhere).

It is so beautiful! I cast on immediately and knit through the second season of Entourage (it's a little young and boyish with lots of girls in bikinis which isn't my type of show at all but some of it was entertaining)

I grafted and cast on this morning.

I knit a little flower in the back of the sock. I'm not really a wearing flowers type of girl but I thought this colourway was strong enough. Now that it's finished I can't really see the flower but I like the look of it on the back of my leg anyway. Like a little secret.