Spinning, and Knitting, and Baking to beat the Winter Blues

Well it is Tour De Fleece time again and that means spinning everyday that the bikes are in motion.  We are all most nostalgic for all things French at the moment as it is two years exactly since our Paris sojourn.  The weather has turned decidedly icy so a fair bit of time has been spent baking, spinning and knitting and scrapping indoors.

Yay for crafty goodness!

Spinning Rainbows, the kindness of strangers, and Julie and Julia

It strikes me that I never really wrapped up last year's Julie and Julia project? That is because it has sort of just evolved into me mentioning the book/magazine everytime I show a finished article on here.  I did learn that I do use my knitting and crochet books and mags but not so much my quilting ones so I am endeavouring not to buy too many more of them.  I also learned that more often than not I use patterns from Ravelry so I am being more selective with the books that I do purchase.  It was a good exercise and I did get to make some fun stuff, but I think when all is said and done I am happy enough with my book collection being largely eye candy to read in the bath.  Sometimes it is not so much about the finished product but about the planning and the dreaming and the what-ifs.  I am okay with that!

I have been spinning a fair bit lately.  I have also been spinning my own dyeing attempts. That has been super fun. Not that I think I will ever get into dyeing in a big way but it is really satisfying to have a project that you have dyed, then spun, then knit/crochet/woven.  This is the cold water solar dyeing that we did at Bungaree.

 While it was spinning it looked like this:

 This made for ridiculously happy spinning!

Then I navaho plied it to keep the colours:

Sooo much fun! I think this will become another little baby cardigan.

This week I finally got to a jam packed post box and found that the lovely Kate from over at foxslane.blogspot.com had sent me the cutest little crocheted cupcake and one of her apple bags! Thank you Kate, I really love it and the apple bag made my day.  I will have to remember to take a photo and post it here after I clear my camera.  There is something about the kindness of strangers! I really hope that one day I meet Kate IRL because she is one of the best bloggers I know and I do really look to her for parenting wisdom too as well as a dose of crafty goodness!

Anyway, the roast is ready, the glass of red is poured, and the weekend is drawing to a close.  Hope yours was a good one!

Keep smiling,

Nell

xx

Mastering the Sock

I have knitted about 8 pairs of socks on circular needles now and every single pattern I have tried has needed tweaking or fudging or frogging, and required some cussing and ripping back and staring cross-eyed at the pattern.  Not anymore.  Enter Cat Bordhi's "Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles" - I have just finished the "Simple Sock" for James, out of the most beautiful "Jedd" colourway from Moseley Park.  This is quite possibly the most perfect bit of knitting I have ever done - no fudging, no cussing.  A joy to knit.  That makes me ridiculously happy.

There has also been a lot of spinning for the Tour De Fleece.

And yesterday I managed to finish quilting the world's ugliest UFO and I will stitch down the binding on it Wednesday night at sewing!

Tomorrow is the very last day of holidays - one more day of sleeping in, cooked brekkies and slow paced days.

Kick the Bucket and Julie and Julia

There has been lots of frenzied crafting here after the boy announced that we would holiday at the beach all of this week.  I have finished the Nokomis test knit (and this pattern has been released on Rav)  It is a super quick and super easy sweet little knit (and best of all Mads loves it and wants to wear it!)

I also finished the Gruffalo Hat in time to wear to the forest with kindy.  I am claiming that as a Julie and Julia project as I modified the polar bear hat from the book "Animal Hats" which is making its way into my library as we speak!

And then there was some hurried finishing on this little guy.  My friend started this Melly and Me "Dilbert" pattern a long time ago.  She did all the hard work and then gifted it to me to finish.  As she has a new little grandson I finished it to give to him. Tick that one off the Kick the Bucket list.

Just lately I have been VERY naughty in adding to fibre and fabric stashes so I am cold sheeping/stash busting for a while to make up for it.  

 Of course part of that means spinning up all of the "little" and random bits that I have accumulated - like this blue/black that I aquired in a swap.

It is "Tour De Fleece" at the moment so I am trying to spin as often as I can while that is on.

And, of course, next weekend is my consultant and friends scrapping retreat so there is a bit of crazy packing going on too!

Life is never dull when you are busy LOL

Have a great week folks!

Julie and Julia Projects 2 and 3

Look at my new socks!

I know that at first glance they might look completely ordinary but they are actually these:

I love that they are knitted on straight needles and then crochet seamed up the side.  This book also gives patterns for kids socks and for socks in a range of 4ply/fingering and 8ply patterns.  Because these were 8 ply they made up in noooo time at all and they are super comfy (do you recognise the handspun Heath?)  The seaming looks like this:

I can live with that.  Maddie took one look at these and requested a pink pair "just like them".  I hope you appreciate that I modelled these socks on a 40 degree day! Knitting socks in the middle of a heat wave does seem a bit crazy!

I have also been using some of my homespun to knit hats for Westmead (see here www.retromummy.blogspot.com ) 

Unfortunately this one is a little on the small side because I was running out of wool so it will be suitable for about an 8 year old.  The next one will be bigger.  I have to say that I don't like the 2x2 rib nearly as much as I like the butterfly hat pattern so not sure how many more I will make using this pattern.

Happy Tuesday!

Crafty stuff

Hello bloggy friends,
It feels like a long time.
I have had so much to write and so little time to write it in.
I wanted to write about my grandfather, who is so dear and so wonderful, and who left us earlier this month but then that post was waiting for photos and now it is such a beautiful spring day that it doesn't seem right to be sad.
There has been crafting, LOTS of crafting, especially with my beautiful consultants, and my awesome quilting group.  I feel really blessed to have both of these groups of friends in my life.

Last weekend my Close to My Heart Consultants and friends went to Glenbarr Homestead for our annual retreat.  Lots of laughs and fun and I managed about 60 pages.  Close to My Heart have negotiated a fabulous deal for consultants to purchase their own cricut cheaply so we really gave that baby a workout.  We went through one mat and two sets of blades but you should have seen the pages and cards that resulted.  I will really try to post photos of them soon.  I also learnt how to mask and use the daubers to make lovely shading.  It has become my new favourite thing!

Then Wednesday night we celebrated my quilty/knitty friend Anne's 70th birthday.  Anne is the coolest 70 year old I know.  When I am 70 I hope to be just like her.  She still adores life, she laughs at EVERYTHING, even herself, and she is so much fun to be around.  My quilty/knitty friends have been so important to me this year.  They help me to smile through the grey bits.  They sympathise and understand and they always make me laugh.

 I feel bad that I haven't finished a single quilt this year. NOT ONE.  At least I do have some crafty projects to show you.  The first is my Quaker Shawl by an amazing designer called "Stitchnerd" (look on ravelry or check out her blog on my side bar)

The wool is handspun from Kathy's Fibres Winter Fibre club in a merino/baby camel blend (sooo soft and squishy with a lovely drape). 

 The second project is the Sean the Sheep Cowl.  This pattern is so easy that I have now made three of them. So easy and so addictive and really doesn't use much wool at all.

Cowls are so great for kids as they can't get caught or pulled tight like scarves can.  Maddie and Hannah both have one and I have made one in bunny/merino handspun which I will probably sell or gift.  

I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Keep smiling,

Nell

A bit of this and that...

Well since I last blogged there has been a fair bit of kindy work, and a fair bit of Creative Memories "work" (if you can call training at a 5 star resort "work" LOL) but there has also been a bit of cropping using Chris Lothian's fabulous "Fast Formulas".

There has been a bit of spinning (more "Ivy" and some "Happy" from Kathy's fibres)  I think I am addicted to Navaho plying!!!

There has also been some more knitting for charity.  The pink one with the heart is going to a friend's new baby girl.  The heart is a bit crooked but I am hoping that is part of the handmade charm!  This wool is so delicious and soft to work with that I am dreaming of a Baby Surprise Jacket (Toddler version) in lime and watermelon stripes for Miss Maddie.

Amongst other things there has been a slow and tentative start on my February WIP - all I can say is thank God for leap years because I am going to need the extra day this month if I am to get it finished LOL

Happy friday,
Nell

Getting into the Groove

This dear boy started school this week.  He went off happily and confidently.  It felt good knowing that he has an awesome teacher, and a great group of classmates going through from kindy with him.

He was extra happy to see one of his favourite people, Kathy (who volunteers at our kindy and had popped in just to help settle them all - Kathy is one of the sweetest people I have ever met so I can understand Dan's crush on her!)

It has taken Maddie and I a while to get used to being "home alone" just the two of us!  I worked Tuesday and Wednesday but today I feel like we have truly found our new groove - just the right mix of housework and playtime.  I took Maddie to Spinners and Weavers (how very strange to just have one little person with me!) and she played quite happily so that I could actually get some spinning done!  There may or may not have been a little bit of adding to the stash (but I figure I have earned it with all the destashing and finishing and purging I have done lately!

Look how organised my storage looks in the new craft room!

On the weekend I also managed to finish my last project for January - my gorgeous ex-pat SIL sent me this tea towel last Christmas and I thought it was much too nice to use as a tea towel.

So now I need to start thinking about February projects (including the dreaded caterpillar quilt!)
Happy Thursday to you,
Keep smiling,
Nell

Page a Day Layouts and Learning New Tricks

I think as a teacher I am very into the idea of life long learning, but I also think that sometimes I make things seem much bigger/more difficult than they actually are.  I am particularly bad with technology.  Which is why I find it quite amusing that after I wrote my to do list I went browsing on Pinterest and after reading the help tutorial learned how to "pin" things.  Yes, two days into my to do list I can tick that one off!

I have also been wanting to learn how to Navaho ply for ages.  My friend Kathy from kathysfibres.com does the most exquisite handpainted rovings that are just a delight to spin but often when I ply them I end up with "striping" or "barber pole" effect.  Navaho plying gives you longer gradations of colour without as much barber poling.  Anyway, I watched a few tutorials on You Tube and then this morning gave it a go...and it is easy...and fun...and now I can't wait to ply some more!!!  Tick another new trick off the list!

This colourway is "Ivy" and it has a bit of nummy silk in it (which you can't see in the photo but it gives it such a nice sheen!)

Sorry, I just couldn't crop this one - look at those chubby little fingers and toes - she is growing so quickly that I have to hold on to any shred of babyness while I can!

I haven't counted how many pages I have done so far but I do know that I am going through page protectors at a rapid rate so my guess would be about 35?
Hubby goes back to work tomorrow after a four day break so I think that I will be slowing down somewhat.

I managed to get some nice wool at Spotlight on clearance for $1.50 a ball so hoping I might be able to begin a Shalom cardigan for myself once I finish the socks.  The rule around here is always that you must finish two things before starting something new LOL.  The kids are about to start Vac Swim so I will need something to knit as I sit beside the pool!

Happy Tuesday,
Keep smiling,
Nell
p.s. My friend Jac has started a Gratitude Journal on her blog - today I am grateful for fresh, sun-ripened, 100% organic nectarines from our tree, and for the joy of Navaho Plying, and for the squeals of laughter and delight that a paddling pool produces around here!

Fireman Dan and a bit of crafting

Today Dan and I went to the Metropolitan Fire Station for his kindy excursion.  I think the look on his face says it all.  Lovely to have this day with just my boy (and the upside has been the snuggles and cuddles I have had since we have been home; he even said to me "Mummy, you are just my treasure" - heart melting)

Life has been busy (even busier than usual LOL) here so not a whole heap of crafty stuff happening.  There has been this school hat for Hannah.  The pattern is from Ann Budd's "Knitted Gifts" book.  I am a bit disappointed that the cable just kind of disappears in the mottled wool.  The wool is pre-dyed Romney tops that I have spun up into a thickish 8 ply.  After the hat there are matching mittens and a scarf (which I will have to make up to match as the pattern is only for a hat and mittens!)

Hannah has also been invited to a spate of birthday parties lately so I made these to go with a little gift.  Quick and easy - 15 minutes in front of the telly and I think they are kind of fun.

I did manage to finish 3 quilt tops on the long weekend so I've also been busy organising backing and binding for them so that I can send them down to Emma for quilting!
Happy Friday!
Keep smiling,
Nell

Feel like a bit of crafty retail therapy?

If you are local (ie Adelaide) and feel like some crafty inspiration this Saturday Mathilda's Markets is on at the Burnside Ballroom (exquisite clothes, accessories and crafty things for little people) and the Adelaide Hills Spinners and Weavers have their annual Open Day at Littlehampton Peace Hall - lots of handknits, felting and homespun wool (even some of my little hats) and they normally have complimentary mulled wine too!  Definitely good for a bit of crafty inspiration!
Have a great weekend,
Keep smiling,
Nell

Flood Relief Auction

Okay, so remember I said I would be back with details of what I was auctioning for the Flood Relief Appeal?

I am auctioning 3 little hand-dyed, handspun, handknitted children's caps.

First is "Autumn" - 100% dyed Australian wool with a wool felt and button embellishment.

Second is "Leaf" - Alpaca and wool blend with a needlefelted leaf.

Third is "Strawberries and Cream" - dyed Australian wool with slivers of mohair.

Auction is open now and will close on January 24th.  Just leave a comment with the name of the hat you want and your bid.  For more details and to look at all the awesome crafty things being auctioned on other blogs please click on the Flood Relief button.

Any questions please leave a comment.
Also happy to spin some 100g hand-dyed wool skeins in your choice of colourways for the highest donation above $22 AUS.
I could probably also be convinced to knit these caps in custom order colourways for the Flood Appeal too (if you twist my arm enough and give me a bit of time!)

Just desperate to help out a good cause.
Keep smiling,
Nell

On the fourth day of Christmas....

I'm dreaming of  a white Christmas....my little niece and nephew live in the UK and it is snowing there at the moment so this was the Christmas gift I sent back with their Daddy this week:

"Heath" (so named for my nephew) - beautiful roving hand-dyed by kathysfibres.com and spun and knitted by me.

Ruby's hat and mittens are in Kathy's "Happy" colourway.  This is the first time I have knitted mittens.  Thankfully Kathryn from our Spinners Group found an easy pattern for me. 

I like this colourway so much that I am imagining a little winter dress for Maddie in the same yarn.

Expect to be totally swamped by Christmas posts over the next few days as I am way behind on Nic's 12 Days of Crafty Christmas challenge and we leave for Qld later this week!