missfee

This blog has now moved to a new home

2011-02-20T23:18:00.000+11:00

the new URL is

www.missfee.com/blog

you will be redirected in a few seconds or click on the link above

2011-02-14T14:55:00.000+11:00

cat attack

old school craft - kept me up a night fretting

Kaffe and Brandon talk stripes

happy valentines to you all

still here .......just

2011-02-14T14:52:00.000+11:00

and currently finding it difficult to load photos - pooh

and thinking about moving blog homes

finally

so news soon

Running some more

2011-01-31T18:45:00.000+11:00

I ran over the new iron cove bridge on Saturday morning

and past my favorite bit of graffiti ever

I did miss a run on Thursday due to work - but still managed over 10kms for the week

running til 24th Jan 2011 - 11.8kms

I will need a few days to sort out winners, actually give me another week and call me slack instead

an extension and some more running

2011-01-22T17:39:00.001+11:00

Hello
I am still alive
& I completed and survived the first day of shoot yesterday

It sounds great to say that I spent the day at the beach - but all day the water and sun tortured me as I was working and couldn't swim - as I had to go back to the office after. I did work on my tan inadvertently and the arms are red brown at the moment.

Anyway I have been running heaps and wanted to report on the last two weeks

Week 2 of 2011 I ran a total of 25.9kms, and I rode 5.2kms to meet up with Kris for a run around Sydney Park.

Week 3 of 2011 I ran a total of 17.9km - might try for a quick one in the morning depending on how tired I am

Total so far this year - 60.9kms which according to calculations is way beyond expectations but I set the bar low for this reason exactly. Trying to balance motivation and the pressure not to fail. That sweet spot where it is achievable if the odds are against me any particular week.

I have also been meditation 5 out of the 7 days in the last two weeks.

By managing to meet up with my running buddies which is a great tonic to work - and keeps my sanity in check by providing and alternate view to the world outside of a tv production. Working 12 hours and more a day does somehow twist normality as you see your work colleagues more than anyone else. Reality starts to skew towards the world you are creating rather than what is happening in the real world. Sadly the past two weeks so much has been going on here with the rain both north and south, this is not the alternate reality anyone wants.

I am extending the deadline on the blog birthday thing til the end of the month - so go over here and comment to be in for the win - and I will post overseas!!!!

Veggies of my garden

2011-01-12T10:13:00.001+11:00

Originally uploaded by miss_fee

these are all from my garden - the photo is dark as it was late last night when I took this

This is the third cucumber and they are delicous

yesterday

2011-01-11T19:18:00.001+11:00

Originally uploaded by miss_fee

I went to the beach and didn't get to swim

I just got to check out the surf club and stare longingly at the surf

an another idea over there

2011-01-10T10:00:00.000+11:00

check this out

what do you think?

happy blog birthday to me

2011-01-10T08:00:00.002+11:00

today my blog is 4

thanks to S.V. for this phot

and wow I can't believe all that has happened to me in the past 4 years.

The knitting, the moving, the cats and best of all the Sock Victim.

So as a thank you for reading my blog I am giving away some sock yarn.

I have 4 socks worth to give away - one for each year of blogging

Can you guess any of the yarns....

Leave me a comment, what you would do with the yarn, if you prefer any colour over another and next Sunday winners will be announced.

FO 2011 Daffodil

2011-01-09T16:37:00.001+11:00

This Cardigan has been on my list for a while (and the sandals are finally in the post would you believe).

Last week I had a solid run of holiday and nothing to do - bad weather, a comfy couch and the TV series on DVD 'The Killing', and my own personal chef - well we did take turns sort of, I did breakfast and he did dinner - yum yum yum.

This is what happened

I reused some yarn bought back in 2002 for a cardie that just never looked good on my or anyone that I tried to give it to.

But I loved the yarn - my favourite as you know in another guise of Tango, Rowan Felted Tweed and I really loved the grey

I did a test to see which colour would go for the stripe - I hope you agree with me on the icy blue I picked, the last one on the right.

I still need to sew in the ends, block and find the perfect buttons - me thinks grey or ice blue

I have started my super duper sock club 2011 socks - but I am sort of stuck at the heel - but really want to meet up with my fellow sock knitters and discuss. I want the thrill of talking about the sock with my fellow super duper sock knitters.......
I am loving the wollmiese sock yarn to knit with - just a tiny bit splitty but otherwise a great knit.

Running update - so far really good
3rd Jan -3.02kms
4th Jan - 3.22km
5th Jan - 3.35km
9th Jan - 7.48kms
Total this week - 17.07kms - wow a bit more than I thought - but the trick is to keep it up when work gets mad as it will in the next two weeks

I am really really tempted to knit another pi shawl with holes and in a really fine lace weight like this one- am I mad....

what missfee did in 2010

2011-01-06T10:34:00.000+11:00

yes there was some knitting and as I cast my mind back I realise a bit was done.

The two highlights were my utter amazement at getting ribbons at the show and finishing Percy in record time.

Socks did languish this year and my personal sock club of 2010 didn't fair so well.

Last year there was no photo but 50 projects counted- I think I was too embarrassed to flash those projects - well I did fall behind this year.

Thanks to Ravelry I am able to count up a total of 32 projects, I am being brutally honest with myself and not counting Georgia as there was something awry with the sleeves and I frogged back to an inch past the arm hole, and for the moment I am unable to face anymore red, actually I have grey fever at the moment, but that is this year and I am meant to be discussing last year.

7 cardigans
7 shawls
3 toys
7 socks
2 hats
4 30 stitch items designed by me
1 vest for niece - still waiting for the finished photo of this so you get the not quite done photo
1 square for gorgeous Connor's blanket before we knew he was to be Connor

1. P1000327, 2. P1000325, 3. IMGP4841, 4. Shantaram socks, 5. Fractal Cardigan, 6. Cotton socks, 7. Waving lace socks PSC#3, 8. Hoot, 9. Viften, 10. Popping the cherry, 11. kai- mei, 12. english breakfast tea leaves, 13. 30 stitches scarf, 14. 30 stitches mittens, 15. 30 stitches wrist warmer, 16. ishbel, 17. aurelia's vest, 18. ene's scarf, 19. olatz shawl, 20. rosamund, 21. PSC 2010 #1, 22. Senso Socks, 23. beret, 24. baby blanket for teddy, 25. IMGP4675, 26. IMGP4621, 27. damson 2, 28. IMGP4487, 29. IMGP4432, 30. Hoot, 31. 30 stitches cowl, 32. Untitled

new year's goals

2011-01-05T14:14:00.001+11:00

inspired by Kris and a few other blogs I have been working on my 2011 goals whilst on holidays

george is gorgeous

These are

Move more eat less

broken down below-

Running 10km per week, more is fine less is not - and walking counts
loose 5kilos - this fits into my eat less move more goal of above
meditate 5 minutes day minimum
sweat the big stuff not the small stuff - I tend to worry about the small things - if your tweets annoy me instead of ranting at S.V. for a day I am just going to unfollow instead.
Be kind to myself and not expect to be super human, remind myself that I am just a person
meditate each day (I said that already didn't I)
knit for pleasure not cause I have to - deadlines are not important this year

So far I have
run 3 kms for the last 3 days - to make up for the large amounts of lounging and eating and drinking whilst on holiday
eaten too much but back to Weight Watchers in February - after the madness of work disperses
about to clean up my twitter to ease the small and concentrate on the big
still need to start on the meditating - does knitting count......

2010

2010-12-31T10:32:00.000+11:00

this year - every time I start to compose the round up of the year whether it is knitting or otherwise I get sad as I lost two very dear friends this year.

Karen in January and then Sally in May.

Friends are so special and precious.

It just doesn't feel right to flash the finished projects just yet - I am nearly done with my cardie - and I know I will get over the line, just, but I will wait til next year to post photos.

What I will show you is my very first sewing machine which made its way back to me for Xmas. I had only been talking about how I learnt to sew during the previous week and Aunty Rhonda and Uncle Brian had be the custodians of it where it had lived on their property south of Cooma for quite a few years now. So long that I had forgotten all about it.

This Xmas they have decided to sell their block of land and then sewing machine has made its way back to me. Now that I have a house for the singer it seemed fitting to them that it came back to live with me. I was so excited and grateful as I had given up all thought of ever seeing it again.

I am so lucky and blessed to have a house that I can call 'ours' and a very special sock victim to share it with.

And I am so lucky to have so many special friends.

F.O.'s

2010-12-26T16:28:00.001+11:00

So two days off from work and as many projects finished.

I managed to knit one of these socks in 24hours - as I cast on reading the pattern for 6 ply wool and had to unpick last night.

Audrey just needs buttons - I have them but just need to sew them on

I love the sleeve construction - it really is fantastic and one I am going to use as much as possible from now on

Project details

Audrey in Ultimo - I have now moved work but she stays the name of my old job(rav link)

Pattern - Audrey in Unst by Shetland Trader

Yarn - Wollmeise 100% only 2 skeins

Size - as documented at length over here

Needles - 3.25, 3.5 and 3.75mm

Project details

Cooks River - (rav link)

Pattern - Kalajoki by Tiina Seppälä

Yarn - BFL socks - 1 skein

Size - for my thankfully tiny feet

Needles - magic loop 2.25mm

The second sock took 24 hours - but the first took 2 months - I blame the new job

Po was getting in on the photo act today - loving that we are around for lots and lots of cuddles

happy holidays

2010-12-25T21:52:00.001+11:00

did your day measure up?

mine did as I went around the house with my new measuring device

we drank out of some really cool glasses

had some great roast chicken

I slept in and had 2 nana naps

knitted

and now watching tv

hope you had a great day too!!

phew I am getting there

2010-12-12T22:08:00.000+11:00

I finished a sleeve - one to go now - this was taken earlier when I was just starting the rib but now I am already part way down the cap on the second sleeve.

if I can I need to finish at least one pair of socks before the end of the year, this years personal sock club is so behind.

but it was a great weekend of knitting - at guild and in Newtown this afternoon with some great girls - you know who you are!!!!

and I found the best dress for Xmas today - from Made590 on King St it is from Lazybones - if only my cardie was blue it would be perfect!

super special six pattern sock club - or how many adjectives can you have

2010-12-12T11:18:00.001+11:00

SIX!!!

so this was born from an idea of Lyn's a few weeks ago - and it grew and grew and grew

now we have patterns - and we voted, a few times over some of us...as well I really didn't like skew AT ALL!!!!!!

and I chose my yarn mainly semi solids to match the patterns

now to put them in bags and wait for each 2 months to roll around - and hope that I get some knitting done next year.
Jan/Feb Shur’tugal Start 1 January Due 28 February
Mar/April Nutkin Start 1 March Due 30 April
May/Jun Leyburns Start 1 May Due 30 June
Jul/Aug Fox Faces Socks Start 1 July Due 21 August
Sep/Oct Nanner Start 1 September Due 31 October
Nov/Dec Boyfriend Socks Start 1 November Due 31 December

From Left to right
Wollmeise Twin in Sabrina
Needlefood sock in Lavender Infusion
Sundara sock in Blush
Koigu KPM in 11870 - although I just realise that this is 100% merino so I may swap this one out today
Tosh sock in Composition book gray
and last but not least
Collinette in Vincent’s apron

farewell Mr Squiggle - no more fun for anyone....

2010-12-06T22:20:00.000+11:00

photo from SMH

Sadly I just read that Norman Hetherington has passed away

One of my favorite jobs was designing the last series of Mr Squiggle in 1999.

ABC

Norman was a wonderful man and such a delight to work with.

ABC

I was privileged to go into his workshop and it was fully to the roof with puppets.

the tip of his nose was an oil crayon and Norman really did draw upside down Miss Jane....

what a difference a few months and a lot of rain make

2010-12-05T15:51:00.000+11:00

garden just when we moved in

garden in July

garden today

tomatoes

strawberries

capsicum

cucumbers flowering

this is our xmas tree this year

love the knitted in set in sleeve

save the words

2010-12-05T07:24:00.001+11:00

I found this link to save the words via a conversation on the radio - another antiquated old fashioned form of communication like letters, writing and conversation. As you may imagine I love words but due to my crap spelling I am often either looking them up or thinking of easier to spell alternatives. I am a thesaurus in some ways

so todays word is PSALLOID

What is your favourite word? Apart from wool and knitting......

bring on saturday

2010-12-04T12:46:00.002+11:00

As much as I try at the moment weekends are when I come up for air - work is great but very much demanding of a lot of hours each day - which leaves a bit of time for sleep, eating at home, washing of myself and knitting.
The fun bits are that I have been finding out about the legal system here and went to the courtrooms at Taylor square this week - having lived round the corner for nearly 20 years it was really fascinating to see the inside of the building.

Today I am catching up on some work before heading out for drinks with friends this afternoon

Po decided that I needed a hand with drafting and reading measurements

then he decided that my drafting presentation was rubbish and he needed to add some thoughts of his own to the drawing

After that we checked out the strawberries and pansies in the garden

and tom was seduced by a cuddle or two

there is a new camera in the house - a Panasonic DMC-LX5 and it rocks - there is a debate as to whose camera it is and I think I am losing....

there has been a small amount of knitting on both cardigans.....

weekends are the best

2010-11-28T18:06:00.000+11:00

Now that my week is so full on the weekends are the best.
I did all the washing and cleaning up of the house yesterday

The niece and nephew came over for the night and we took them to the pub for dinner - lots of fun and not a vegetable in sight - don't tell their parents. The cartoon adventure time and a cool slot car assembled in the lounge went down a treat.

On the sewing front I bought some more fabric but no sewing happened this week - but 2 dresses are planned.

On the knitting front I made some major progress on both cardigans - but not on the socks.

Actually two at the one time is great as I got to the difficult bits of Audrey - I then swap over to the plain part of Georgia. I hope to finish the back section of Audrey either today or tomorrow - and then the sleeves which I am super excited about knitting.

and the best bit from this weekend is that I got a computer upgrade YAY a macbook pro 15" to fit into the new work bag - and a keyboard and mouse. It rocks - and purchased from JB hifi - they were great as the first one had a bung video card and had to be returned on Saturday morning. All sorted and loaded with my stuff ready for work tomorrow.

productive

2010-11-21T06:16:00.001+11:00

It started about a week ago and inspired by this top over at the Tessuti blog I made one for myself. This is a liberty cotton - not a lawn and it has been worn and washed 4 times since I made it - I am a love it and wear it now sort of girl you see.

It was trace cut then sew - a real production line over here yesterday. I extended the dining table for more workspace and had numerous cups of tea. When I reflect back this exercise cost me the price of once expensive top and the hours to find it shopping - instead I made 3 and had my day at home.

As summer approached in it's haphazard way this year I looked at my wardrobe and thought I needed some cotton tops I can throw on look respectable, and stay cool in. The one inspired by Colette at Tessuti fit the bill and I had the book. I added 7cm to the length and 5cm to the arms - and I also didn't face the back but used bias binding - the second one I made up a facing for in the same fabric.

I went back last weekend for some more fabric - and although I still have two more pieces I thought I would try out some other patterns before I cut into the liberty lawn.

This is the second pocketed, do you recognise the fabric - I just couldn't resist, it is like bark cloth and a great colour.

Then this top with the pleats and gathered back, in a light cotton lawn.

Then this simple shift - where upon sewing up I realised I didn't add the seam allowance to the back piece - there was quite a fiddle with fitting in the sleeve but it did work in the end - I am not sure if it will sit right though. But in this pattern I have found the base I have been after - to make up a version of a Country Road top I have worn and worn over the past few years - it is gathered at the front with a scope neck and a few variations on the sleeve. That will be the next day of sewing me thinks.

Today I am super excited as I get to knit and hang out with the uber knitters. And get to catch up on my knitting - I have managed a few rows of Audery each night but it is slow going.

lost in the moment

2010-11-17T17:52:00.000+11:00

So here I am sitting at my new desk - in my temporary office finding fun people to hang out with for the duration of the job. Translates to I am employing people.

As will all new things it does take a while to get into the swing of things and it is taking me a few days - wondering what I am meant to do and such

I have change names and place to protect the innocent but here is the letter that came with the present from Sock Victim for getting the new job -

Dear SockVictim of idyllic Sockland your Ordernumber is: 0000001

We‘re honered to announce that you soon will be proud F77 BEN owner. We do everything within and beyond our power to make sure that in no time a charming delivery man will ring your bell to hand over your personal piece of FREITAG!

Later this evening we‘re going to celebrate your shopping skills till dawn and we will drink at least 17 times to you. Therefore again, thank you very much!

Best regards
Your FREITAG Online Team

Usual delivery times (F-cut excluded):
Switzerland: 2-3 days
EU-Countries: 5-8 days
Rest of th world: 10-15 days

new bags!!!

and then

Finally!! Your F-product has been successfully packed and is now about
to leave our F-factory. We all gathered one last time in the factory
hall to wave goodbye with scattered emotions.

We wish you and your FREITAG‘s the best of health in future. May you
live in harmonic and eternal friendship!

Once again, thanks heaps and we‘d love to welcome you back soon in our
online store.

Your FREITAG Online Team

new hair

where I have been shleping stuff from

how I get around and talk and drive

cute asleep kitten shop

and another so Tom is not left out

In the mean time I have been slowly plugging away at my Audrey and now I am just about to start the plain stocking stitch bit.

and so it begins

2010-11-09T09:07:00.000+11:00

The weekend was furious and full of social engagements.

this was from lunch last week - so so good and delicious!

One of the S.V.'s friends had a significant birthday (40) so there were quite a few of our friends up from Melbourne.

Although first I had my last day at TAFE and I passed! Now qualified to train and assess...
One of my partners in crime made me this fab necklace - a barral o monkey cast in bronze - too cool.

Then it was off to knit and on the way to SSK I spied a knitter through window and knocked on the door for some tea and knitting time. Of course I knew who lived there Pru!!!
There were just two of us at SSK - Jody and I knitted for a few hours and then I was off home to get ready for the evening ahead.

We went to the party via the best dinner ever at Bar H in the spot of my favorite cafe now gone - the wall. We shared quite a few dishes and it was so so so good - look out for the review in the Good living this week.

Po in a box!!!

The party was fun - and then after a late night I got up and made muffins for the visitors before they set off home to Melbourne. There was painting for little people and general lying around on the NEW COUCH by the larger people. So comfortable and LARGE!

painting by one of our visitors - of leaves in our garden

how the magic happens

2010-11-05T18:46:00.001+11:00

a photo in full from the other day or how to make Humpty stand on his own two feet

goodbye is so hard

2010-11-03T21:41:00.001+11:00

especially after 6 wonderful years

I myself have grown in these years, had the space to experiment and make stuff, tap into my inner 4 year old let loose with a hot glue gun and NT cutter.

found so much happiness and the most wonderful friend in my gorgeous director

To be a custodian of this most precious show has meant so much to me

the last 3 days I have been shooting a book for the show with a really great photographer Ian Hofstetter

I wish this last shot had been in focus as it is so so cute - I did get a portrait taken with the toys and just with little ted just for me and some great memories

now I am undergoing to major shift from the old job to the new one.....

what to do when you don't have a couch

2010-11-02T20:25:00.000+11:00

So we are getting a new couch - and delivery has been delayed and delayed and delayed - I think everyone is getting one of these.

old couch

We put our old couch on ebay and it sold really quick! It went on Saturday.

Today is Tuesday - and delivery of the new couch is due for Thursday.

What is the problem you may ask - the wicker chairs off the front porch are great for a drink and a sit but not a lounge. Not more than about 25 minutes and with a cushion there is a dull ache and the loss of feeling in your bottom, after 40 minutes.

So last night I went to bed early - and early to bed the night before too, but tonight we went for a walk. Down to the Cooks river - where it dawned on me that it was named for that Cook - whoops duh. S.V. was not impressed and pointed out that we live right next to Botany Bay - that one in the song

Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ad-di-ty,
Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ay,
Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ad-di-ty
Oh we are bound for Botany Bay
Oh we are bound for Botany Bay.

etc etc etc

silk worm update

2010-11-01T20:45:00.001+11:00

As promised here is an update on the silk worms - remember back at the beginning of the month...

Anyway there are cocoons and now some gorgeous white moths - and thanks to Jeff for the photos and to Julie for the update today.

And no ews but awws now...

the other science experiment of the weekend was that I learnt yesterday that kidney's explode if you heat them up in the microwave for the kittens to eat. As they have a membrane - and if they explode check the ceiling too.....ewwwww

done dusted and some progress (or castonitis in action)

2010-10-31T13:48:00.000+11:00

Damson mark 3 is finished or Campari and soda as I have named it.

This was my second wollmeise scarf project this year and once again the yarn was a delight to knit with. although there is one pull in the yarn in the middle somewhere but I am sure that in time it will fade or not be noticed.

Project details

Campari and soda(rav link)

Pattern - Damson by Ysolda

Yarn - Wollmeise Twin 80/20 colour way Campari piccolo

Size - as written

Needles - 4mm

This one was just over 2 weeks to knit

Then there has been a small amount of progress on my cooks river socks

I cast on Georgia last night - the tart sock arrived on Thursday and I just could not resisit

langishing is my Audrey but hope to make some more progress soon

The garden is thriving and I had a play in there today

thanks so much for coming along for the ride this month - I had fun and apart from one day - which I made up for - I posted every day - sometimes up to 3 times

I suppose there was alot to say this month

3fer

2010-10-30T08:25:00.000+11:00

yesterday along with all of the excitement I managed 3 posts - so today I am giving myself a day off

this is the post for today

here is a gorgeous magnolia picture I found -click on the photo for the source- as today I got my shipping notice from Madelinetosh for the first package is on its way - YIPPEEE

post script

2010-10-29T10:18:00.000+11:00

it's official

with great sadness I have resigned from my favorite show in the world

and accepted a job on the next hot new TV series for Aunty- which I can't discuss - the weird thing is that the ABC doesn't make in house drama any more and I need to resign from the ABC to work on a show for the ABC - go figure

The other sad bit is that there will be less knitting time - for the start - but another knitter is on board (can you guess who?) so I am sure some will get in there somewhere - in my letter of offer the Producer was excited to learn some knitting too - would you believe.

cultured

2010-10-29T07:49:00.001+11:00

last night I had the great opportunity to see the play Our Town put on by the STC

Having studied theatre I did see quite a bit when I was at Uni (or that cultural sausage factory as we call it). this carried over when I bought subscriptions to Belvoir St for a few years running and even the opera for a year.

I found that most times I would go and be disappointed.

Last night I went with no expectation and I had such a great time. I was transported by the actors and the setting. The costumes and scenery were understated and very powerful. I loved the restrained look until the final act when the detail only accentuated the loss and grief of the dead.

Then time passed very quickly and after the first act I was anticipating something to go wrong in these people's lives, as it unfolded in the 2nd and 3rd act it was only through the act of living that something went wrong. This in itself was so powerful.

I was heartened and inspired, perhaps there is hope for the arts in this country.

Susan Prior was top notch and every bit as good as I remembered from when she was studying at NIDA nearly 20 years ago. Such a powerful actor - with the ability to transport you with a look - from such a distance.

Wow I think I may try out this theatre experience again soon.

blogtober

2010-10-29T07:04:00.000+11:00

wow nearly at the finish line - and so much has happened this month

I cast on and cast off a few times.

read a book and found some more

yesterday I bought some congrats on the new job books

and had a giggle at those staging dudes redecoration of their tea room

today

2010-10-28T07:45:00.000+11:00

it is raining and I just would love to curl up like Po and sit at home all day

out with the old

2010-10-27T21:41:00.001+11:00

I remember now why I was keeping all of this - for the craft book. Well that got 'forgotten' by the new management - so after much discussion with my assistant on Monday we had a huge clean out. Our other colleague came in to work yesterday and had the same feeling we did - more space and air to create new ideas and thoughts.

it is so funny as there is decoration from the trolleys all over the very bloke oriented staging area at the moment.

I'll try for some photos tomorrow.....

and don't worry a lot of it went to the childcare next door and lots of little people around. We just don't need it - as who wants to see tatty cardboard 10 times over - not me, not you and certainly not those little people. Our gorgeous audience deserves the care and love of new ideas and props for each and every show!!!

halloween 2010

2010-10-27T07:36:00.000+11:00

My darling friend Grace has a favorite book at the moment 'Trixie the Halloween Fairy' which is the inspiration for her costume this year

so we went off to spotlight on Monday for the pattern and fabric. Then last night we cut out and sewed up this creation so she can be that fairy Trixie from the cover of the book - I can't decide which is the better photo so you all get 2 views

and thanks came way of the most delicious dinner and dessert from a local famous cake maker.....

Hanging with all of my people

2010-10-26T08:15:00.001+11:00

once more with feeling

2010-10-25T21:37:00.001+11:00

244 stitches

that is what I cast on not the 263 that the pattern called for

36 rows down the track of the twisted rib just about to go into the stocking stitch

so I did what I needed to do,

but not what I wanted to do

rip rip rip

wind wind wind

and cast on again

now from those 36 rows I now have 2 rows done

now for some socks - damn that is twisted rib too ARGGGGGG

the lane and house is the walk home from the station - love the sandstone house at the end of our street

sock club and knitting progress

2010-10-25T07:05:00.001+11:00

Finally a sock club reminder came around again this weekend and I am casting on...

These ones are for me and the yarn I have had in my stash a while now, Fleece Artist BFL sock yarn in grey. As you can see from the socks below I am not being that adventurous with colour choice - I looked at other colours but it just didn't feel right.

Kalajoki by Tiina Seppälä

The pattern Kalajoki is slightly adapted so there is a small amount of thinking and researching what other people have done as it was written for 6ply but I am loving the waving rivers up the legs.
It is a Finnish pattern tranaslated into English and the pattern notes Tiina describes the socks thus
"Kalajoki socks reflect the Kalajoki river which winds its way through Finland and empties into the Baltic Sea. Like the river, these socks feature a twisted rib pattern that undulates down the foot."

I have named mine Cook's River but there will be no sludge or smell from my socks......

and continuing with the twisted rib I am just about to start on the body of Audrey having finished the ribbing section of the body - phew this is going not so fast but it is 4 ply so I should not kid myself.

books and recommendations

2010-10-24T12:18:00.001+11:00

Thank you everyone for your suggestions a few weeks ago.

I had really lost my reading mojo and found getting a book to get me back into reading more difficult than usual.

Here is the list of recommendations - so came in via email afterwards and others were left as comments on the blog.

Shirley Hazzard - The great fire, Transit of venus - from Beth who has started her renovations blog wow quite amazing, she also did the graphics and store plans for the recently opened Granny Square, that fab new wool shop in Newtown

American Gods by Neil Gaiman recommended by both Kris and DrK and a copy kindly lent already

The Passage by Justin Cronin from DrK(aka Kylie)

and I also found out from Kylie that there is a Linda Wallander book out - still need to get to a book shop for that one

Also Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Kylie and another two friends Ingrid and Marg, have both recommended Johnaton Frazen's new book

Rosered had some really fantastic recommendations - so good that I had read them all and loved them too
Rushdie's Midnight's Children
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre and To Kill a Mockingbird.
The Lovely Bones - my darling friend Sally would always give me a book for my birthday and they were always amazing - this one was one from a few years ago
Number One Ladies Detective Agency books - read and loved them all - another friend of mine grew up in Botswana so I read these and think of her.

And from my Mum
Fred Vargus books, set in Paris
and the Donna Leon series set in Venice

Lyn suggested
Arnulder Indridason
Kate Atkinson Case Histories', 'One Good Turn', 'When Will There be Good News?', and the most recent - 'Started Early, Took My Dog'. and as you would of seen I found Case Histories that very day in the bookshop of doom. Last night I finished it - and loved it too.

My friend Marg works in a book shop and has also given me a list including the Man Booker prize
winer this year - which I am really interested in reading
The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson

~~in other news I am currently looking for a laptop bag~~ -edited to add that I stand corrected instead of using S.V.'s old bag he suggested and then found this last night
I am in love

what I did today

2010-10-23T17:14:00.000+11:00

spent the day at tafe not much really -- where we learnt about powerpoint and here is the photo I used on my work introducing myself

the axis is shifting

2010-10-22T20:27:00.000+11:00

in my world - can't say too much as people need to be told officially etc

but apart from the loss of knitting time it will be exciting

changes changes

2010-10-21T22:09:00.000+11:00

the not-quite-finished first page of the pop up book this week - it all went really well - one page to go...

it isn't enough

2010-10-20T16:39:00.002+11:00

that I knit but now I am looking at quilting sites too, mmm fabric....

I am loving this quilt - which I found via Three Buttons and over here

Quilt illustration for Parcs i Jardins, the park deparment of Barcelona city council. Thanks to Wai Lin Tse for sewing the quilt. Agency Small. Barcelona, 2009

Later today I am off to the opening of the Granny Square in Newtown - I hope that they are still going when I get there a bit late...

and a certain wollmeise fairy brought her stash to work today and I got a drool, a snuggle and a inhale of the wonderful wollmeise perfume

Is it finished

2010-10-19T19:32:00.000+11:00

When do you know you have finished a knitted project?

When you cast it off?

When it is blocked?

or when it is worn for the first time?

I am pondering this as I cast off my Damson today.

Finished - but is it really?

many thanks to my photographic assistants Tom and Po

after the math

2010-10-18T19:24:00.001+11:00

I sat down and cast on many many stitches - and now onto row 2.

Yesterday also saw some sewing and some cooking

I made more chicken from the new cook book - this time chicken with rosewater and hazelnuts YUM, apple and olive cake - double YUM.

Then the sewing machine came out and I made .

a bird bag - not a bag for birds but for knitting with birds on it - this bag is from two Kate's pattern. Here it is before I sewed the handles together -so you can see the birds in full glory - can you guess where this fabric is from - and for the other projects but not the quilt....

a toiletry bag,

some serviettes

and played with some fabric for a quilt - perhaps

getting gauge edited to add - or how missfee is crap at math

2010-10-17T13:55:00.003+11:00

So to embark on Audrey I need to do some maths

edited to add - wrong wrong wrong fee failed at math - see comments for the truth!!!!

as my gauge is on 3.5mm needles- 28 stitches and the pattern calls for 24 stitches.

I did go up a needle size to 4mm but the fabric looked all wrong and loose - so instead along comes the math.

~~I fit the 5th size - 38.5" or 98cm, just double checking that with tape - whoopsI am a bit smaller so perhaps I should go down a size~~

With a bust measurement of 94cm I fit the 4th size - 36.5" or 93cm - bit of a difference but it is meant to be with negative ease of about -2.5cm.

Here comes the math - BLURG - my gauge is 28 stitches over 10cm so on the overall garment ~~I am off or over by 4 stitches which overall would be an extra 1.4cm every 10cm~~
~~Worked out by dividing 28 into 10 and times it by 4 - gives me 1.4cm~~

~~So over 93cm - that is 9.3 lots of 10 - I would gain 13.2 stitches - making my cardigan not 93cm at the bust but 106.3cm and one unhappy missfee.~~

~~So if I knit the first size at 77.5cm bust I would get a gain of (7.75 x 1.4cm +77.5) = 88.35 bust - too small~~

If I knit the second size - 83cm bust - the gain would get me to a 94.62cm bust - so this would be the one for me. Non or 63mm of ease but I am fine with that - I am not so sure that I would like a really tight garment.

Ok so I am crap at math - did I do this right? Just asking as I know you are out there today Rosered, Jodie and Reccie......HELP

edited to add - wrong wrong wrong miss fee fails at math - see comments for the truth!!!!
so for every 24 stitches I need to knit 28 so as the lovely ladies say say I need to knit the 108cm Bust as it will give you 259.2 stitches at 28 stitches for 10 cm

how a tree, and my garden, made me forget

2010-10-17T13:10:00.000+11:00

to Blog yesterday

I got so into the garden that I lost all track of time and ended up pulling out a dead tree - then planting a new one.

Here is the root

and the branches

and the new tree

and the veggie patch - we also bought a push lawn mower yesterday so there was lawn mowing as well!

some wool - sadly DK not sock was sent - so the Georgia cardie is still a while off yet

I am wondering if I should send this back or keep it......

Work in progress

Another Damson in wollmeise - love the orange

and here is Po in the stain glass window - not happy and jumped straight down again

Celery or Audrey what to cast on next? Still can't decide.....

the ease of an articoke

2010-10-15T15:40:00.001+11:00

if you have Stephanie's cooks companion - I use her instructions, she explains it better than I do

peel the stalk - take off outer leaves and chop the top off - so you just get the soft yummy bits - you can see from the photo how I just chop off the tops - we find the smaller ones yummier.

and they are really bitter before cooking so your hands and everything they touch go bitter too - then they go really sweet - odd but true

put straight away into lemoned water - to stop them going yellow

boil them in salted water - I put them in when the water is boiling but we have done it both ways and it works - and boil for 15 minutes or until soft - weighed down with either a plate or a smaller than the pot lid - this is as they float and then wont cook properly

dress with vinagrette

and eat the f**k out of them!

xxfee

Look what Effie did!!!

2010-10-14T22:36:00.000+11:00

hello Elodie

2010-10-14T08:41:00.000+11:00

Congratulations to Corrie and her family - and hello to Elodie Elizabeth

hump day

2010-10-13T22:40:00.000+11:00

so much for eat less move more

although I did ride to work today as part of ride to work day today

then all that went out the window when dinner came around- after yum cha for lunch today too mind you

dinner was delightful and delicious

A special Herbies dinner at the Glebe point diner

with really wonderful company too!!!! but I wont name and shame you know who you are....

I would show the food but I ate it

whoops

there are plans afoot to eat LAMB - want in, we need a few more to make up numbers planning for the alternative Halloween this year.....

Tuesday bluesday

2010-10-12T21:09:00.001+11:00

Was so hard to get up and going today - and I had a 7am start which meant leaving home by 6.30am which I didn't quite manage today. I did still make it to work on time though. Then the turning on of the brain - I struggled with that too, at least until I had my coffee.

Mothers of Australia no doubt will be cursing me when this goes to air - a calendar that pops up each day - a new scene - this is the white card version - it will be full on full colour by this time next week.

before dinner

I am currently obsessed with artichokes but I think that the season is nearly over and this will be our last lot tonight.

after dinner

And I found purple potatoes at the markets on Sunday that stayed purple when they were cooked - we think they may be more yam that potatoes.

The muffins from Sunday were from the Ottolenghi book I talked about the other day - the apple carrot and pecan - they are so so so delicious with the most amazing topping of butter, mucavavdo, oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower oil and honey

Here is our new pan from Ikea in action - and the makings of breakfast on Saturday - I keep harking back to the weekend as it was so much fun. I also cut some knitting for guild - photos over here - Mary-Helen and Sandra ran the best workshop on steeking at Guild. More info over here from Rosered, she supplied the great scissors....

Thanks for the great photo Kris

I was so hung over on Saturday it took a coffee, on the left, and tea on the right, along with bacon eggs and HP sauce. We had way too much fun on Friday night just hanging out at home, eating artichokes and BBQ.

Birds on a wire captured on my iphone last night in petersham....

wishing I was still on sunday

2010-10-11T20:32:00.000+11:00

so instead I will show you more of yesterday

I am not a toy to be photographed I want to sleep in peace OK

look at that cat!!

socks in action

little for me big for sock victim

blooming lot

2010-10-10T15:47:00.000+11:00

still going from last week

kangaroo paws

from our garden

just because we have lots of flowers in the house
the white ones from last week are still going
and this week I just couldn't help myself - the flower girls at Marrickville markets are tops

sunday funday or how not to decide anything at all

2010-10-10T14:02:00.000+11:00

a huge thank you to Kylie Gusset for this
fab tshirt

So today I present to you two finished items and the choice of what is next.

Finished item #1
Summer Solstice was such a great knit and it the best wearing cardigan - again another project that once finished I have worn every day since.

Project details
Summer Time - (Rav link)
Yarn - Elssebeth Lavod Silky Wool just under 6 skeins used
Size - medium
Needles - 3.75mm and 3.5mm
This one took about a month I am not sure if it is the amount of stocking stitch or other projects getting in the way this month.

Finished item #2 -
Socks for the sock victim and the 6th pair in my personal sock club, running 4 pairs behind at the moment but I am not counting.

sock victim's socks #22 PSC #6 2010- (Rav link)

Yarn - Kaffe Fassett Regia sock yarn - I hear this is to be discontinued :(

Size - as required for foot of the sock victim

Needles - 2.25mm addi turbo lace

This one took about a month too not going that fast with the knitting

So now what to knit next

Firstly is Audrey in Unst - can't decide between red - wollmeise or grey - madelinetosh sport

Socks for me - can't decide full stop but here is some wollmeise that I managed to purchase off the actual website!!!

Celery - I have swatched but now I am thinking perhaps I should knit Goodale.

Also I have started playing around with a Babette Blanket - and not sure if I want to do solid colour blocks or strippy ones.

So today is a day of posing questions and not an expectation for the answer. I am just going to muse on all of these ideas. But if you have a suggestion I would be every so grateful

or these could be socks? As it is socktober....

cats are cool

2010-10-09T18:18:00.000+11:00

Matt's kindle great image on screen

po is just too fast to photograph most days

cat tv - Tom in entranced

I went to guild today - it was so much fun and there were 16 sign ups for the Level One Certificate group starting next month.

propergating

2010-10-08T09:29:00.000+11:00

from our garden mint now growing in kitchen

thanks to Lyn
and the bookshop of doom
I have a new book to read

and thanks to Marg and new cookbook

thanks to everyone for their books suggestions and lending - I am getting excited about reading again and the one above I started last night - I will let you know the recommendations over the weekend....

riding - or eat less move more

2010-10-07T13:27:00.000+11:00

Next week is ride to work day here in Australia - my bike is in for a service today which meant I rode into town - Clarence St from home just under 9kms. It felt epic and I am more tired than usual.

I rode 2.5 times in and out of work last week - I forgot my bike was here over the weekend so I only rode home on the Monday.
So far this week -
yoga x 2 sessions(of 2 hours)
3 rides (in orout) - one home tomorrow which will be 4 rides in and out.

I am aiming for 6 rides (in or out) - and yoga twice a week and at least one run - for this week I have scheduled it for tomorrow morning.

I am amping up the exercise in my eat less move more campaign currently underway.

I thought if I wrote it down here I might actually stick to it - and as part of my Blogtober I will keep you up to date with my progress, sorry to bore you.

reading - help required

2010-10-07T12:24:00.000+11:00

I love reading.

I have read since I was very small, and loved being read to as a child.

But lately I have lost my ability to engage with a good read. Well not really lost it but I can't find a book that has pulled me in. I have tried everything but nothing seems to grab me. I asked all my friends what they would recommend. I asked in book shops and libraries.
I love crime but I am after another Wallander - who can go past the stark landscape and deliciously human characters, oh I love how flawed Kurt is. His life is a mess but his brain solves crimes in an around his personal chaos. I so appreciate that his imperfections are real not excused and not something being done to him, as in so much American fiction.

I want a book like Sacred Games or Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell but both of these I just stumbled upon and they were a slow build and such an engaging read.

Cloud Atlas and A Suitable Boy have been recommended.

do you have any ideas?

p.s knitting news I have my Solstice on today - and I think the sleeves need to be longer - I will workshop this tonight at Morris and Sons knitting group and let you know the verdict tomorrow

where does silk come from

2010-10-06T19:51:00.000+11:00

From silk worms and my friend Grace and her family has been overtaken with silkworms. Her mum and dad are making nearly 4 trips a day to the local mulberry tree in the park down the road - at least puppy dog is happy for all of the walks.

what will happen after the moths wake up

5 boxes!!!

and here is the best real estate photo yet - check out the posters on the wall - you could own this wondrous piece of Sydney real estate too, smack bang under a flight path, but very close to transport, trains, buses and planes.....

watch out socks are addictive

2010-10-05T19:50:00.000+11:00

So Mum came back from her latest trip os - a cruise from Germany to America

regia regia regia rocks

and her friend Gurdrun, whom she traveled with, is a huge sock knitter and Mum caught the bug - 5 pairs later. I asked for some but as I can knit for myself I am not getting any. It is so funny as she is a bamboo DPN convert - and I am either two circulars or a magic loop devotee - I gave her my WIP tube today and needles a while back.

not best photo "give me the keys I want to show you my socks"

Maddy left, Aurelia middle and George on the right
see the family resemblance there?

Cast OFF!!!!

2010-10-04T19:51:00.000+11:00

So spurred on by Rosered I concentrated hard on my summer solstice this weekend.

that was then end of food still heaps left over YUM

And today at knitting afternoon tea at Jody's I cast off. It was great to sit and knit with wonderful knitters this afternoon - thank you everyone

please forgive the bad hair, kooky eyes,
not matching outfit and sleeves pushed up

YAY now I am going to block and check the sleeve length -but to tell you the truth with the collar it feels right now and the sleeve is a bit short but I like it like that.

Now to sew in ends and block - or is that block and sew in ends. Or perhaps I will just knit something else tonight.....

long dinners

2010-10-03T19:02:00.000+11:00

the long weekend means time to cook - and from my newest cookbook ottolenghi delicous chicken, stephanie's artichokes and rice

The best if I don't say so myself

how to get sidetracked even with a plan

2010-10-02T16:46:00.001+10:00

So after the experience at ikea yesterday S.V. drew up a game plan for the visit today. We both rang and checked stock on the shelf and then I triple checked the car interior. After a small family conference it was decided that we would get the unit delivered. And off we set with our plan below. (diagram curtsy of the sock vicitm)

This is what actually happened -

- plant, pots and office chair (that was planned)

Tom sleeping oddly with a shaved but mended leg

po in the cat trap we set - old shelves in S.V.'s study

summer solstice ready for collar

And a HUGE thankyou to Rosered for the gorgeous house warming present - we really need to have a house warming sometime I think. Jane Brocket's "The gentle art of Quiltmaking" I love and under is the quilt top I made 22 years ago - and I am finally organising to get it finished some time soonish, now I want to make another!

blogfest october BLOGTOBER

2010-10-01T16:09:00.001+10:00

blog fest,

October,

it's Blogtober again!!!! and as I do better with a deadline and a commitment and I have been missing blogging here I go.
I will have to load buttons etc over the weekend as I can't do it at work at the moment - something is not compatible.

Last night I was at my knitting clinic - and as I am telling my students the importance of a swatch and tension square (and one might think I was torturing them with said item of knitting) I thought I should do the same. So I did one for my Celery - the Madelinetosh colour is just delicious. I started the Damson for in the gorgeous wollmeise orange.
And I had a long hard look at Solstice and I think I have a plan - 5cm on the length then the collar and then fix the sleeves. I can block it in between the collar and the sleeve fix as it may drop a little bit...

Anyway today was the start of get organised for the weekend - and I had to go to Ikea for work - so I thought I would also get the large bookshelf that is going to revolutionise my study, as far as tidiness and organising goes.
I am a well versed shopper so I checked the stock list before I left this morning -first bung steer of the day was that the tag on the show room floor shelf misdirected me to the wrong aisle etc. A quick look on the computer in the self serve area set me in the right direction - but there were none there!! A 15 minute wait to talk to the dudes behind the computer then lead to a 20 minute wait while the dude checked the loading dock. Even he was annoyed as he knew I would not be the last inquiry for the day and someone had misfiled them - they are not a small item - 3 boxes worth. So he was going to put a note in the system and get a restock sorted overnight and suggested I ring first in the morning before coming out. ARG my plans of spending tomorrow cleaning up my study are out the window as now I will be trekking in and out to Homebush.

A side note to this is that this week I realised how close the new Ikea will be - I will be able to walk down for a free coffee - S.V. is already organising a ban for me!!! I bet when they move in I will no longer be needing anything - except for the stuff those ikea pixies put in your yellow bag as you go around the store....

but I have biked back and forth to work 2.5 times this week - about to get the last .5 in and bike home now - have a great weekend.

"you should be allowed to make mistakes - and never unravel"

2010-09-30T13:38:00.002+10:00

did I really say that?!?

I think to a beginner it is important not to give up - to not pull it out, just keep going and revel in your achievement.

I just came across the October issue of Notebook Magazine - there is a great article about my teaching by Selina Altomonte.

What caught my eye as I had my first flick through the magazine was the gorgeous bow scarf she is photographed wearing - it was her, I think, second time around with the pattern and what a great job she did.

I think that perhaps crochet and granny squares are winning the craft time in her house though!!!!

note to add sadly this happened yesterday so it is all not longer.....

Stuck in Sleeve land

2010-09-30T09:25:00.000+10:00

Many others have been here before and I am not the first by any means to tread along this tricky and somewhat tedious path.

My Summer solstice keeps coming to these impasses - the length of the body dilemma I overcame with a lifeline and the decision to be held off. I got to where I thought was the end of the sleeves, finally, yesterday only to try it on and wonder how it all had shrunk and should I re do them!

Then there is the temptation of the Celery Cardigan and some scummy Madelintosh calling from my stash - along with a shawl from the intense orange of wollmeise - to be a farewell present with a deadline looming in 2-3 weeks.

And I can't even begin to contemplate the tardiness of my sock club this year - after a fine effort last year I have lost my sock mojo. Those reminders keep popping up and I just keep denying their existence, both the club and the reminder.

So hence the previous post - on some level I think I need to concentrate not on the finishing but the learning of knitting. That is how I am getting myself up and over the hill of sleeves-ville. Along with the knowledge that it is now summer and short sleeves are the go for my planned summer knitted wardrobe.

So my remedy to all of this - step aside from the cardigan, wind some wool and swatch in preparation. Then think how nice it would be to have solstice done for the guild meeting next week - nothing like a deadline!

finishing and beginings

2010-09-27T15:40:00.000+10:00

So I am planning and prepping for the level 3 component of the NSW knitters guild certificates- to work on during my summer break - of 5-6 weeks!!!!!!

Once this is done I am thinking of doing either the English Guild and Hall (a bit of a history from Emily over here) or the American Master Knitter program. If perhaps I did the American one I could go over to get my pin!!!!

Ok I am knitting nut - but thought if I write this here I might actually do it

too many choices

2010-09-13T22:07:00.001+10:00

As I have said many times before I love a cardigan

There are just too many out there that I want to knit at the moment

And now I am moving away from thicker yarn - which means a longer drawn out knit, perhaps a good thing but not perhaps for this impatient knitter.

First there is Georgia - from the very talented knitter Jane - my needles and I - which myself and my friend Marg and going to knit along together but the yarn we want is on back order so that is a while away yet.

Then there is Hay - by Veera Valimaki- which fits the bill for some of the growing stash of Madelinetosh that is needing to be used up.

Then there is Audrey in Unst by another favorite designer of mine- Gudrun Johntson - who writes such good patterns, did you see her fantastic photos from her trip to Scotland in the last little while - so cool.

And also by Veera there is Celery another sock yarn cardigan in a great shape.

I am also entranced by Cecily Glowik MacDonald at the moment- her eye for detail and form - Candelia above is gorgeous

and another by Cecily - Goodale

ok ok I will stop - soon

then I found

Daffodil - by Orianna Eklund - in my favorite TANGO!!!!!! And just look at that image - my idea of summer - frock and cardie

with some really ~~daggy~~ cool hipster sandals to match

hello bruised ego

2010-09-13T21:37:00.000+10:00

I fell off my bike today

I am ok - really I am ok, but my confidence is shaken and my cockiness gone. It was just a thing where my wheel caught the curb at the wrong angle and me and bike fell sideways, onto Cleveland St. Thankfully no traffic and I got up real quick and moved back onto the sidewalk. Then on moving foward again the chain came off and twisted onto itself, a common problem I hear, I turned the bike over - well away from road, on the footpath- and untangled the chain with the help of a passerby, whom was really helpful thanks so much whomever you were. He made sure the bike and I were was working before I rode off.

I then had the most of the ride left to go, which I did manage, slowly and carefully.

Sydney park is really cool with the great big brick stacks..
And although Monday's are normally a dry night tonight I had a 3 fingered whiskey when I got home..

I am still riding to work at 6 in the morning - wish me luck.

goodbye gofa

2010-09-05T21:42:00.000+10:00

Today I said goodbye to my gofa bike, thank you to gumtree...4 hours from post to pickup is that some record?

It has been a great bike for the past 1 and a bit years - but I have recently wanted to go a bit faster and have a bigger range of gears, and to sit so that I got more power out of my legs when peddling. The gofa was a great bike to get me back into cycling again - and a great summer ride - with a frock off to knitting....

so now it is hello to my new trek - who is currently being pimped by the Sock Victim, new grips, bottle holder and rack for starters....

and now for a small give away - I made 4 of these - and there is one left over, if you can help me decide what to knit with my polwarth it is yours.....

There is about 140 grams and at 100m per 28grams I think about 500m

how do I best show off the yarn? I am into triangles and lace at the moment if that heads you in the right direction - and I posted a list of ideas over on ravelry earlier

pictures in search of a title

2010-09-05T19:29:00.001+10:00

Today I blocked my La La simple shawl - I am really happy with the result

I cast on Summer Solstice on Friday - inspired by Knitabulous, Emily and Kylie
So far so good - I am going to knit both sleeves at the same time - so doing the back first.

flowers are cheerful

cats are great

Played in the garden a bit

found a spoon

and spent 5 hours filing paperwork - lost of words at the moment

today in pictures

2010-08-31T20:02:00.000+10:00

I drank tea - and broke not this cup but my other favorite cup

I wrote lots of lists - to help me remember and do everything for studio later this week - see the boxes I tick them when I have done the work - and yes we are having turtles in studio this week too

My assistant made this really cute elephant - I wanted to show you how cute is that!

and I packed a very large trolley

finished and completed

2010-08-30T16:02:00.000+10:00

Eventually all things get done

For years and years I just wanted to help my dear friend Sally sell her stuff.

But she just wanted to keep it, and collect more.

One of the truly wonderful aspects to our friendship was that even though there were things we didn't really agree with we always accepted each other for who we were.

Over the 20 years we knew each other we changed and grew as individuals but we were still able to accept each other for who we were - all faults included.

I learnt to work around her non existant schedule and eluding nature - and when I caught her spent as much time with her as possible, breakfast would turn into an adventure and often lunch and dinner and possible breakfast the next day.

I am sure that I often annoyed her with my bossy nature, this feature harnessed meant that I could move mountains and organise stuff in moments, well that mountain did take a bit longer than a day but I started it off in a way that made the move out of Burton st that much easier, I thought so at least.

I really cherished her and our friendship- and it was such an honour to help her son organise selling her fabric collection on the weekend - but I didn't plan on the emotional side to this. I had a night of tears on Saturday and then Sunday morning -as I realised here I was doing what I had wanted to do and not what she had wanted - it was quite conflicting and cathartic all at the same time.

What made the day even more special was that the old gang of workers from Kookaburra Kiosk were there, and most of us had not seen each other since Sal's funeral - it was great to have tears and hugs and chats - just like the old days.

The job was huge - Mitch spent 2 weeks - with lots of help - sorting and measuring all of the fabric - we spent 6-7 hours on Saturday pricing and putting it out. Then another 3 hours setting up before the sale.

The line formed at about 10.30 and the first 4 hours went really quickly as it was packed. There were heaps of familiar faces in the crowd and we sold at least 3/4 of what was there.

One lady bought this fabric in the morning and came back in the afternoon with this gorgeous finished dress for her daughter. WOW

We are going to set up a flikr page of finished items - let me know if you came and bought anything.

Keep an eye on the website, and sign up for the newsletter, as what wasn't sold - actually quite a few of the better pieces - Mitch is going to put up there -and there is linen and haberdashery to go - and we will probably organise another sale for these.

Now for some knitting -

A big thankyou to Emily for sending a little bit of knit camp over for me -I love these colours and now wondering what to make.....

I did manage to finish a knitted item next week - this is for a friend who recently moved to Melbourne.

Damson by Ysolda in

Hand maiden sea silk

on 4mm addi turbos- 80cm (current fav)- a really quick knit - very satisfying - the colours are goregous.

I really hope she likes it.

the old fashioned way

2010-08-28T21:04:00.005+10:00

please note this is not my image -
it comes from a private file sharing site which
I cannot name....

and I think it comes from somewhere near here
or maybe these guys found it where I found it...

Photos

2010-08-18T22:40:00.000+10:00

Both of my sisters are very talented - one is a woodworker and the other a photographer and artist.

Maddy does take the most amazing photos and I have 3 hanging on my walls at the moment.

We are about to have a fourth - when I get it framed, I am so excited.

I really really like this one as well.........

socks and such

2010-08-18T22:30:00.000+10:00

Thanks for the comment Emma the first Madelinetosh grey is Tern in tosh light merino - this not being able to reply to all of my comments does get a bit annoying but I think this is a feature of Blogger - any suggestions?

Back to the business at hand - knitting this is going to be a shawl - yummy handmaiden sea silk yarn - and what colours - yarn pron for you all.

I have been knitting, but frustrated at my slower than normal enthusiasm and progress - then I remembered that usually around this time of the year I do slow down a bit with my knitting. But the cloud has past and slowly the mojo is coming back. Oh and I should stop being so hard on myself we did move and I have been occupied with life in general.

For starters I went to the most amazing workshop with Liz Gemmel on the weekend, as an aside if you ever get the chance to sit next to Knitabulous, take that chance and embrace it whole heartedly you will not regret it - she is one top sheila and I have never laughed as much.

I digress, Liz was awesome, and Liz was great, but best of all she said - yes there are rules, these are the reasons why knitting behaves the way it does, now go forth and do what you want. My kinda lady. We are so getting her back and if you get the chance to come along don't miss out.

I came home and tipped my stash on the floor - that felt great - I know know what I have. Way way too much sock yarn - so much that I may never get through it, but a very concerted effort to will be made I promise you and me that.

I even have a bit of tango - which when I went to destash I was like - no it can't go!!! The colours, they look too good!!!

they go too fast for my camera

majestic po

The cats are being cats as usual.

Finally some knitting here are the three pairs of socks I have been trying to knit over the past long while. The first pair the green ones - well I knitted a whole sock and it was just too small - I even filmed the unravelling of that one. The second pair is the ball on the right which is a replacement for the ones I lost in May on the train. The last ones in desperation I cast on to have something simple to knit and then I ignored too distracted by life and Manu.

So now I am going to work my way through these with the odd interlude of sock for myself - these are of course all for the sock victim - he is feeling a bit neglected. But he is still my hero - as he tried really hard to get me ceramic yarn for our second anniversary - but in the end decided that it wouldn't be a great addition to the stash - he read reviews on Ravelry that were not so great. My kinda guy. I procured for him a rather dashing mug and some napkins(china and cotton for 2nd year I read). So now I am pushing for a new matching dinner set - but we will see........

And a HUGE thankyou to Mary-Helen and Sandra for the super gorgeous Marameko tea towel that appeared in our mail box the day we moved in. I love this pattern and it was such a thoughtful gesture a big thanks from S.V. and myself.

furry beasts (or how I am really a cat tragic)

2010-08-16T08:58:00.001+10:00

po stalking tom

the cats love the new house

there is under the house to hide

there is still a train track behind the house to get filthy from - Po comes in mainly black not white

and generally there are less other cats around so they are more chilled, although we did have a visit from George the cat up the road and his owner last night - and she has 10 cats apparently, he chased Po under the house and disappeared

We(well I) fretted and discussed the best way to go about the move for the furry beasts. At first I was going to drop the cats off at my sisters, but I had dreaded thoughts of them getting out and having another thing to worry about on move day. So sensibly I booked them into the vet for 3 nights. As we had already had a false start to the box city they were not so freaked by the piles of boxes in the house. But by the Friday I think I needed a break from them to really concentrate on the packing, yes they want cuddles and pats and I have no resolve whatsoever.

We moved they rested, and had to socialise with other cats. I am not sure how they really felt (as they cannot talk) but my niece and nephew were really keen to help collect them on the Sunday. I wasn't really ready but we collected them and cat proofed the escape routes.
After 2 weeks inside - well it was the second weekend - with a few 10 minute outings, some by stealth some by design. The beasts were released on the Saturday when I was at Tafe and we have not looked back.

They then had a few days in when the termite treatment was done and after one day of climbing the walls they settled down again.

Tom is more chilled. Po is really happy - but to tell the truth I will never really know as they can't talk!!!!

I will also add that the front door issue has been solved - as in this my resolve is firm and I will not open it on a mew, however persistent it is, request. Tom tried very very hard yesterday to get me to open the door but it did not work.

Now you can really laugh as we are getting a painting done of them by an artist friend of ours. We are truly cat tragics!!!!