More Spinning - Silk Nep

This is the first time I have ever spun a straight single with no intention of plying it.  I like the nubbiness of the silk nep and because it is a silk/merino blend it is really easy to spin.  Lots of fun!

Ba(g) Humbug

My new knitting bag - I have been needing something to keep my lovely wooden needles safe so decided to practise the humbug bag pattern.  My friend Deb is making these for a charity that donates them to girls needing help with life skills.  Each one is filled with toiletries and care package items.  I've quilted the squares for a few of them but still need practise putting in zips before I am happy giving them to someone else!  Anyone else hate zips?

The kids are finally on the mend so there has also been more spinning for the Tour de Fleece, some last minute stitching and quilting for an Alzheimers Project, and a lovely day scrap booking with my friend Meredith today.

Tomorrow I am back to work and then Monday the kids are back to school.
Holidays, where did you go?

Tour De Fleece Day 8

Last night's spinning - a merino/mulberry silk blend spun up into about a 4ply.  Now to find just the right lacy pattern to show off the sheen of the silk.

I Can Spin a Rainbow

Ooh, I am loving being part of Ravelry's Tour De Fleece.  This is tonight's effort (Stained Glass colourway in a merino/silk blend by www.kathysfibres.com

The cold weather always makes me want to knit too.  This is Maddie's Kina Cardigan.  I love this pattern and can't wait to cast on a purple one for Miss Hannah.

Happy Weekend,
Nell
xxx

Tasmania

I thought a few photos of my short trip to Tasmania might be preferrable to photos of my snotty kids and a whinge about how it is only day one of the school holidays and I am already over the whining, the snot, the mess, the litter of dirty dishes and crumbs that can be followed Hansel and Gretel like to three small children with cabin fever.

Freezing on top of Mt Wellington - what an unexpected surprise to see snow!

My delightful tour guide and high school friend Kerri

A snowman to show my kids!

Richmond Bridge - a detour on the way to the airport - thanks Shelley!

Old Richmond Gaol

Richmond Church

The Hobart Shot Tower

I LOVED Tasmania and can't wait to one day take the family back there for a holiday!

Craft overdrive

There is something about the cooler weather that sends me into craft overdrive.  There has been a flurry of knitting, spinning and sewing here lately (not so much scrapping as that room is not airconditioned and it is FREEZING LOL) So here are some recent craftings and the photos are all over the place because Blogger is being unkind.  First up is a farm play mat that I made for Maddie's best friend.  I decided at the last minute to round the corners which was foolish because then the binding was tricky.  Note to self: next time just do plain square corners!

This knit is my Shalom cardigan finally finished!

Recent spinning - I'm in training for the Tour De France - a group of us will be spinning every day that the race is on!

My finished Shalom cardi (details on ravelry)  How to make a knitter's heart happy - the first time I wore it out I had 3 lovely compliments on it!


I've also finished my Baby Surprise Jacket and am 6 grater stitch rows away from finishing a little Kina cardigan for Maddie but haven't taken photos of those projects yet.
I am off to Tassie to speak at a Creative Memories function this week! Very exciting as I have never been to Tasmania before!
Until next time,
Keep smiling,
Nell

What's not to like?

LOVE this book! I have long been a fan of Amanda Jean's blog www.crazymomquilts.blogspot.com and her book is an absolute winner.  There is not a single ho-hum quilt in it!  It has been a bright spot in an otherwise most grey mundane day!

Oh, and the other thing I am loving; knitting a Baby Surprise Jacket out of this lusciousness from www.kathysfibres.com  I have wanted to knit this pattern for as long as I can remember.  I think Elizabeth Zimmermann patterns are almost like a knitters rite of passage.  I am not a very "technical" knitter so I have appreciated the BSJ knit-a-long on ravelry.  These are my favourite wooden needles AND my favourite 4 ply wool from Kathy so it is mindless, peaceful, soothing knitting.  On a day like today, with my big girl home with a cough (but not sick enough to not give me a hard time!) and horrible door-knockers, and guilt sewing - inserting a zip and finishing Mr Snake for childcare, and car troubles, and a grey, rainy sky knitting and browsing beautiful books seems like just the right thing to do!
Hope you aren't suffering Monday-itis!
Nell
xxxx