Christmas blessings...

Although this is a few days late, and my posts have been far and few between... Merry Christmas! Hope you had a lovely day, celebrating with family and maybe even pondering why the holiday exists.

We were stuffed to the gills.

We went to midnight church.

We were given far too many gifts.

We spent quality time with our nephews.

We were delighted when loved ones appreciated homemade gifts.

We caught up with family not often seen.

We praised God for his son Jesus's birth.

What did you do?

I'm no nanna!

Glancing back over my blog of the past year, I sense that the nanna within me have really come to the forefront. As quite frankly there has been too much knitting. One project after the other, and with very nanna-ish themes too - I mean, tea cozies? And jumpers that are too big for the intended wearer? And handmade socks? Gosh, think I've aged 50 years!

So to reinforce that I'm not a nanna, to make myself feel a little better about it all here is a very oddly amusing clip that was on Rage yesterday. Although I didn't pay much attention to the breadth of the lyrics, the key lines have been running over and over in my mind and have been making me chuckle!



I've got love for you...

Woollen lovelies in the post...

More wool, more knitting. And some crochet too! I'm really getting into the woolly crafts. These balls are destined for lots of things, like bags, leg warmers, woolly mittens and probably something for a new little niece/nephew that is busting to pop out any time soon.

Yet again trusty Bendigo Woollen Mills has delivered. The wool took around 7 days to arrive, but I did order it over a public holiday (Cup Day). But postage is free if you spend over $30, and I bought 8 balls so easily spent over this amount. I find it great value for money (around $12 for 200 g), the product is made locally and thus is ethically and environmentally preferred by me. The range of colours is enough for most of your standard projects too. I'm happy to tout their products any time...

Jesse's jumper...

The largest knitting project I have ever attempted is now complete! A jumper perfectly too large to a little nephew of mine. Just in time (well a little early really) for his birthday. Each year as he gets older, I knit him a larger jumper. One day I will be making a jumper from grown ups at this rate... The wool is trusty Bendigo Woollen Mills. I love that you are delivered big balls of wool, in 200 g lots. Two balls was more than enough for this 3 year old's jumper, and I have a little left over for some granny squares. The colour is more blue than the photos represent, with flecks of tan, cream and coffee throughout. The pattern is from a book that I bought a number of years ago - patern's probably... I've found it to be a good basics book for baby things, and this jumper is the fourth pattern I've used from it.

This project tested my persistence. I was able to work at and complete a project that took a number of weeks rather than a few days. Usually I will give up, become bored with the knitting and move on to something quick and more instantly satisfying. So I am really stoked about this. The project also solidified skills in cables. Nothing too fancy, just a plait style pattern which is effective and adds detail to a very plain jumper.

On to the next knitting thing now... More Christmas gifties to come.

What have you been making lately?

Beachy weekends...

Over the weekend we went away with friends. And it was wonderful. Drove down the Mornington Peninsular, to a little place called Blairgowrie. We were staying one street back from the surf beach, in a giant house. Aren't friends generous to organise such a holiday? Weather was wonderful, which meant going to the local monthly market was a must. Afterwards I went for a stroll along the bay beach while the fella went swimming.

I love wondering along the beach. I enjoy getting sandy and having the cuff of my jeans become a little wet. I hunt for shells, for tumbled glass, for worn pieces of wood. I snap photos, wrinkle my nose up a seaweed and dream of doing this every day.

It was a great time to catch up with some friends we simply have not seen for years. I am excited about renewing old friendships... and feel very chilled after my mini-break for the weekend.

How have you relaxed lately?

Crocheted posie...

Sweet little broches?

Or sewen along the top of a bag?

Or placed on a little hat for a wee girl?

Or in a bowl, ready to be admired or picked up and touched?

Or incorporated into granny squares (I have to learn how to make these)?

Or tags and decoration for gifts?

A cozy, rosey posie...

1. Crocheted Flowers, 2. Crocheted Flower, 3. Lovely flowers crochet pattern, 4. Crocheted Flower - Carnation, 5. Crocheted 5-petal buttons, 6. Crocheted 5-petal flower button array, 7. Card with the Crocheted Flower Brooch, 8. crochet flower, 9. Super happy crochet flowers!

Where did photo one and two go? As a flickr-ignorarmus I simply could not move on my favourites list to get other images in that don't mind being shared.

Camera as still vanished in our house. One went to Canada with my mum. The other is simply gone. We took it to the beach a few weeks ago, did not use it but somehow have lost it. So I can't take photos of all the crochet flowers I've been whipping up. Three so far, in pink, red and an avocado green. Instead, enjoy the lovely florals made by others.

Aren't they clever?

Lovely things and some Little Red...

Can't find the camera, where has it gone?

Instead, I'm inspired by snuggling up in the rainy weather, by winning netball tonight (!), by generous sisters who have given me early gifties of money towards new crafting, by luscious chai tea at the 1000 pound bend, by Little Red.

Enjoy the tunes, although I've not listened to the words closely I think this song makes me happy.

What has been tickling your fancy lately?

Giving of gifts...

Jo and Matt's Cushion # 2.

Pattern: Jo Sharp

Wool: Bendigo Woollen Mills, Rustic Graphite

Needles: 4 mm

Are you a gift maker? Are you a gift giver? Some people are, others just don't think of it. Some give gifts just because... they saw something that was just you, they couldn't resist, they just wanted to show their love. These people are treasures, aren't they? One of my sisters is like this. Tell her what you like and she will look out for it everywhere. Very generous. One of my good friends is also like this. Whenever I've seen her recently she has had something for me. Be it wool for knitting, some glass apple bowls, a pair of purple leopard print socks. Loveliness!

Gifties often brightens the receivers day. And it should give the giver a warm glow too. And if you are a gift maker, well the joy can be ongoing. Starts with the glint of an idea, something to make just for the right person... before being made, wrapped and given with glee. Making, making to give. Trying to do this at the moment. So the above cushion has been made with plans to give to a sister getting married. It was very quick to knit up, with a simple but effective cable adding texture.

On the needles at the moment is a jumper for my nephew. Needs to be done for his birthday which falls around Christmas. And then there are some Chrissie gifts also...

Better get crafting!

Down at the local... library

Lovely image from Whipup.net - with instructions for making this libary bag too!

Do you ever frequent your local? Yep, your local. It's full of colourful characters, of stories being told. How I love the library.

We try to go every fortnight, often after work and before a coffee. We search the shelves for hidden treasure, things we never considered reading. And we return to old favourites, much loved and borrowed often. Plus the local has a dvd collection, magazines to rival MagNation, wireless net, and all the facilities you need to create a zine! And if you make a zine using library resources, the library will add it to their collection.

The most recent library adventure resulting in a wide variety of books. A crafting book - Weekend Sewing - which has a shirt dress I'm keen to try as well as some trusty looking day bags that would make great gifts. A book about the history of sushi in the USA, some Alexander McCall Smith for general loveliness, a story set in Tehran prior to its radical change in the 70s (not sure of dates, have to read it to know when the country became closed). Also a simply amazing book which is inspiring me to bake, aptly called Baked.

What have you be reading lately?

Sitting, watching, waiting, wishing...

Cool Cardi - on my wishlist to knit. Thanks Pickles!

Also on my wishlist - leg warmers. They look perfect for bike riding. Pickles again.

Back into blogging and still enjoying trawling the net for lovely things. There is so much goodness, creating, though and overall beautiful things to be found. One link with take you to a whole new place, with discoveries to be had. I find myself truely engrossed, reading post after post after post written by clever creative types. Hurrah for you who are the creative ones, you smart things you!

What to be found:

A stellar Norweigan duo, who knit, supply patterns and also sell wool. Check them out at Pickles.

More Scandi goodness, this time a fabric printing lady from Sweden who has just been to her summer house with the family - Fine Little Day. The images make me swoon, and long for extended summer breaks, for light that lingers into impossible hours, for a place to get away to...

The Textured Leaf has some wonderful reading, and I found a fellow Melbourne woman who creates, and has lots of kids, but somehow seems to always be making something! I'm mega impressed Ms 1/4".

And then there is cooking goodness - ever faithfully delicious Joy, methodical and meticulous the Closet "cooker" (I'm not sure Kevin would approve of being called that though...).

What lovely things have you discovered lately?

Upstream

A simply beautiful, wistful, nostalgic and thought-filled film.

Why are you at sea?

Cabled creations...

Jo and Matt's Cushion #1.

Pattern: Jo Sharp, Cabled Cushion

Wool: Bendigo Wollen Mills, Rustic Sandstone 8 ply

Needles: 4 mm

Knitting has been a real passion and time consumer for me this year! And I have loved it. And my skills have grown phenominally. So much so, I can now cable! I solidified my cabling skills by knitting a cushion for my sister and her fiance. Never thought I would make cushions - surely there is too much knitting involved, they get sat on, or used as trays when eating in front of the telly. But it knitted up so well. Lovely cushion, if I can say so myself. Perfect for a Chrissie gift. Perfect for a new home. Have you ever thought of knitting a cushion?

Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?

Back to blogging, back to basics?

As per most bloggers, life has gotten busy and away from me. And then I started avoiding blogging, cause I felt guilty for my absence, for my lack of prioritising the land of on-line. How foolish! How head-in-the-sand! Cause why am I blogging anyway? Good question, it certainly got me thinking. I don't wish to blog out of obligations, out of resentment. There are plenty of other things in life that I feel guilty about, so why have "hobbies" that make me cringe...

At first I stopped a few months ago because we were busy. We were moving, I was flat out with work, we had no internet. Then I got even more busy and stopped having time to blog-trawl. And flicking through the loveliness of others certainly inspired me to both create, photograph and blog. So when I no longer had time to linger over other's words and images, I found it harder to write. Gosh, I've missed blog trawling!

Hurrah for Whip-Up! Today I followed link after link, finding delicious knitting patterns to try. And discovering new blogs, well new to me. There are some amazingly creative people out there! Who use beautiful resources! Who take light-filled images that make me glow with happiness when staring at them. So I feel like I'm back in the game. Loveliness!

So, what is next? Will I blog again? Or perhaps spend time doing the following:

Taking more photos

Some gardening - tomatoes and lettuce if you please

Time to start a new knitting project

Finish off a quilt

Hang my fairy-lights

Dream up gifts to make for Christmas

Perfecting my baking skills...

Hopefully all of the above, with some blogging thrown in too!

Lovely pinkness!

Twinkle toes...

More socks completed. This time in luscious Pear Tree yarn. 100% merino, wimsically dyed an array of colours. Snug under my boots. Perfect for trotting around the house in. Or warming one's toes next to the fire (make that a mini bar heater).

100s & 1000s socks
Pattern: Ravelry
Wool: Pear Tree Yarn 4 ply "100s & 1000s"
Needles: 3.25 mm double pointed

Knit one, knit another...

One pair of socks are completed!

One of my goals is to improve my knitting skills. And this will take a life-time to reach the master knitter level. So why not start now? I've been setting myself some knitting challenges. Circular needles... children's garments... socks. Socks are staples in the knitting world really. But prior to now, I'd not made them. I'd enjoyed the benefits of knitted socks, care of relatives with superior knitting experience. They are more warm, more durable than purchased socks. They work perfectly under boots, or when you are having a country weekend away and need to rug up. Surely I could make some...

I found knitting on double-pointed needles a challenge. And with an injured finger from sport, all the more challenging. But it certainly was an achievable task. Not quick, but not too hard. Fiddly really. With all these needles pointing in all sorts of directions. The fella wanted a plain pattern though (that is, no pattern) which significantly reduced the amount of fussing that needed to occur. Thus although time consuming to knit, there were not too bad.

Have you ever knitted socks? What sort?

Pete's Socks
Pattern: Ravelry
Wool: Opal "Ron" 4 ply wool cotton blend
Needles: 3.25 mm double pointed set of 4, steel

The art deco man...

Iconic.

Melbourne.

Read a quote saying that Melbourne is full of institutions which no longer exist. It was said by the man from Patterson's Cakes, who is closing the family business after 94 years. And Patterson's is an institution. So sad. But this fella, with his death-rattling roller coasters, remains open. Family fun for all.

Just for giggles...

And the real baked good is...

In my tummy.

Found these various "food items" in a number of shops in the past few weeks. The "food as craft" or "crafted food" idea has been around for a while. It made me giggle to see these examples though.

Which reminds me, I have a felt sushi kit that I should whip out and stitch up some time...

The cat got cross

Knitting away.

Distracted by the French Open tennis.

Made a mistake - increased my stitches too much.

Sock too big.

The cat got cross.

Simply can't appreciate his moment of glory as the Cat in the Hat.

Drats.

Winter wondering...

Winter has hit Melbourne, do you agree?

The mornings are dark and foreboding. The sun dares to peak out when it is feeling brave, but overall hides behind the low clouds. The temperature is only just over 10* C, meaning one needs to rug up, to find gloves hidden in the depths of the cupboard, snuggle into slippers and ugg boots, long for a warm hand-knitted scarf. People are wearing black more black than is expected for Melbourne, and often look more than a little cross in the morning. I'm one of those cross-lookers, I must admit. It is hard to get out into the cold, to be bold enough to open the front door and experience the weather before the day has gotten going.

How will I get though? I am asking myself this more often than I should. It is only early June, just the second week of winter. I calculate that it won't be consistently warm, bone-nourishingly warm until November even December. And then only for a few days... Oh, for some weather that is laced with the sun, which encourages you to throw open the doors and windows, which necessitates sandals and sunhats. Oh, I can dream...

Winter, putting up with the cold has to have some benefits though. Like jumping into a bed warmed by a hottie (be that a loved one, a cat or even a hot water bottle). Purchasing new tights which you know will hug your legs all day long. Drinking whole pots of brewed tea, wrapping your fingers around mugs of the stuff with glee. Making vats of winter stews, full of root vegetables and meat that longs to be cooked low and slow. Walking amongst the last of the fallen leaves, and seeing the sun emerge from between the branches of bear trees. Knitting up things that keep you warm, like socks, and scarves, and hats, and rugs... Snuggling under patchwork quilts that were made with love and intended for cold nights such as these.

What do you love about winter?

Knitting on the round...

What I hope to achieve:

Where I am up to:

This project is not fun! I am finding the socks tedious! Too many needles. Too fine a ball of wool. Too slow going. At least, this was my attitude a few days ago. Yesterday I conquered the heel, and the leg it knitting up just fine. Now I'm loving my sock and keen to make its twin. This beautiful wool is called 100s and 1000s and is from the Pear Tree Yarn Shop. They were exhibiting at the Stitches and Craft Fair, and I was demonstrating with their wool while volunteering. It is so soft, made from 100% merino and knits up well. I simply couldn't resist this ball with its vivid colouring. Hurrah!

Graffitied tunnel of dreams...

Walking home from work, I travel under a giant intersection that has been exploited to the max. How I love this graffitied tunnel! Daily I see some new detail within it. Currently I'm keen on the blue section at one entrance, with bats, dragons, hot air balloons and a friendly alien.

There is beauty in these images. And creativity too.

Knitting for netball...

Whipped up a headband and finished it in the past week. Used up scraps of wool from a tea cozie made recently. Endeavouring to keep my ears warm while playing netball outside on a Melbourne night. So chilly! What better solution than a snowflake patterned headband to warm those frozen ears...
I used to pattern from a tea cozie book, doubled it and removed a few stitches to get a pattern I preferred. Also lined it with a plain stocking stitch, in order to ensure no bobby pins get caught in the back of the fairisle patterning. It is amazingly warm and makes playing netty outdoors in bone-chilling winds more tolerable. Now I need a solution for when it rains...

The Nordic Festival

Last weekend, our family went for an adventure in the country. The car was packed, an itinerary was agreed on, accommodation booked and off we went to Warburton. Only just over an hour from Melbs, Warburton is a little town in the east, nestled in amongst the hills. The sky was clear and still. The country side was gloriously changing from green to orange with deciduous trees. The leaves on numerous grape vines were going this way also. It was gloriously relaxing and felt like a holiday.





So why Warburton you ask... For an inaugural Scandinavian Festival! Who would have thought? Certainly not me. I didn't really have any idea that this sort of thing occurred. But a few months ago I was going to the Nord Living shop on Glenferrie Road to purchase a gift for a baby shower, and sure enough the proprietor asked if I was going to the festival. With the details scribbled down and plans being hatched, I discovered more. Not only was there to be a smorgasbord dinner prepared by a Danish chef, but viking re-enactments, a film festival, vodka tasting, two art exhibitions, an opportunity to discover one's Nordic roots, lectures on social policy in Scandinavia and a market. Oh, I am quivering with excitement just recalling it all!


So we explored the town and found great cake and some nifty second-hand shops. We ate Swedish meatballs and Danish open sandwiches. We purchased Finnish glass wear. We spoke with women dressed in Norwegian traditional costume. We made friends with fellow scandies, and discovered where in Melbs to by lenkisauna (sausage to eat when having a sauna). What a weekend.


As for crafting up there, a number of stalls at the markets had beautiful crafted things. I did feel too cheeky to take pictures of their creations though... So imaging an army of comical vikings, made from felt and faces obscured by wispy woollen beards around 15 centimeters tall. Or hand-knitted hats featuring Nordic designs. Lovely!

For some Scandinavian links I picked up over the weekend, try the following:

Fine by Nature - Finnish textiles shop in Warburton
100 Hats - hats and creations with Scandinavian designs
Nordic Festival information - where we went, the program, etc...
The Mud Factory - Swedish bicycles and Scandi-inspired ceramics
Nord Living - Scandi shop in Melbourne

Scandi-ing about on the weekend...

Images from a Scandi weekend away. More details to follow...

Melbourne town glimpses...

Just some images from my wondering around Melbourne town. The fella and I took some time one day to explore, smell the roses and enjoy the finer things in life. It was great and took us around some interesting 'burbs.

These images depict things I am keen on - found objects being reused, interesting bold graphic images being used as graffiti, Art Deco landmarks.

What great and quirky things are in your neighbourhoods?

Holidays are over...

Just some images from our few days away last week. We made the most of a week off between jobs and went bush. The air was so still. The bush was fresh and largely untouched. We pitched the tent and made lovely fires. There is something about cooking outdoors, isn't there? We walked up big hills, drove up some too. We enjoyed the wildlife, such as this cheeky rosella who explored my handbag.

Back to the city now. And off to a new job! I think blogging this morning is my way of avoiding getting on with things... Time is ticking, off I go to get ready.