Quite A Handful

Handspun Goodness

2009-11-12T18:22:00.003+13:00

A very quick post today just to show some handspun yarn that is hot off the spinning wheel.

It is a blend of 50/50 merino/soy fibres and is extremely soft.

The colour is the inside of a warm rosy pink peach just plucked off the tree and it will knit up on the needles like a soft pound of butter.

A small leafy shadow

2009-11-11T14:15:00.013+13:00

Noting the date today, I see I have been away from my blog for a week and I don't have any particular reason that I can think of, except that I have been feeling a little grumpy.

An "eeyore" sort of grumpy.

Not the irritable sort of grumpy, not a flurry of worries or anything like that, nor a disquieting conversation with someone that has left you feeling a little put out and misunderstood......no, definitely not that.....but the little feelings of unease and not being able to settle on any one thing satisfactorily.

You know what I mean, don't you...the sort of feeling you get when you find a box of roses chocolates in the cupboard, that you had completely forgotten about, left over from Mother's Day and placed at the back of some tins of savory tomatoes that you had overstocked on because they were "on special". You bring the box down from the cupboard and discover that someone else had made the discovery before you, and had consumed the lot and left the empty box behind without even a " ha,ha got you" note inside.

Then there is the $50.00 note that you thought you had hidden away in your purse, hidden behind the post office receipts for parcels sent, and ones that you have to keep just in case the parcel doesn't reach the receiver. You discover something special ( like a book that you have heard a good review of on the radio), delve in your purse for that $50.00 note and find that you must have already spent it, and the worst thing is that you can't remember doing it !

It's the same feeling you have when you buy tickets in advance for a concert or show, and make a note of the date in your calendar, then find out you missed it when you read the review in the local paper.

None of those things have happened to me in this last week, although I have experienced them all at other times, no it is just a vague feeling of unease.... hmmm,

I must be feeling unsettled because I haven't done any knitting or spent time in my workshop for a while, but here are some pics taken in the garden which is where I been spending rather a lot of time lately.

Spring Garden

2009-11-04T15:29:00.009+13:00

I starting piecing this quilt exactly a year ago, when my garden was looking much the same as it is now.

I quilted it a few days ago and wondered why I had waited so long to finish it.

I think this could quite possibly turn into a favourite, for now anyway.

Stones and Flowers

2009-11-02T14:30:00.008+13:00

I love dressing the stones I find with their own little crochet covering, and then placing them in the garden amongst the flowers.

You can read about their beginnings here.

I choose my stone carefully, then take a cup of chai tea to sip, and sit outside to play hooky for a while.

The garden looks it's best in the Spring and I am finding a sweet surprise every day.

Another Birthday Quilt

2009-10-30T15:47:00.005+13:00

Yesterday was my eldest son Tristan's birthday. He and Sylvia, and their little girl Eve live and work on a dairy farm, and their home is a rather tired 70's house, with a 80's colour scheme. Their bedroom is dominated by the colour brown, and I chose this range of Denise Schmidt 's fabrics...Flea Market Fancy, because I knew that it would be perfect to jazz up their room a little, and I am hoping it will.

It has been rather a long time in the making, mainly because of the size... and oh boy, it was a bit of a headache quilting this on my little sewing machine...how I wished for a "long arm machine".

Never mind, it is all finished now, I just have to attach the label and hand it over !

For a newborn

2009-10-28T15:56:00.005+13:00

The above little vest is the subtle colour of Pearl Lavender ( which funnily enough is also the name of a resene paint that I rather like ).

It looks white in the picture, but I can assure you i'ts definitely not.

You might remember that a couple of months ago I was experimenting with some flower and plant dyeing, using my book Eco Colour by India Flint as a guide and I produced this very subtle colour with these purple pansies.

After picking the fresh flowers I popped them into a little plastic bag and put them into the freezer. Once frozen I put them into a small muslin bag and poured a little warm water over them to defrost them and squeezing gently to release the colour. I didn't add a mordant, but I am happy with the result, and I think I will wrap this wee vest in some tissue and put it aside for the new baby coming in February.

It's about time there was a newborn in the family again !

Pumpkin Spice

2009-10-26T11:20:00.006+13:00

Pumpkin Spice started off as several handfuls of soft, rainbow coloured squishiness,

which I spun on two bobbins like this

and the result is :

Pumpkin Spice 80%merino and 20%silk, 300 yards, 10wpi.

A little luxury to slide through your fingers and on to the knitting needles.

A blue blanket

2009-10-23T18:57:00.008+13:00

I know this isn't a very good photo of the blanket I made today, I took the shot in the late afternoon and the sky was threatening rain, so the blues in the blanket look more grey than blue.
Then I brought it inside to take some photos for the Etsy shop, and I am not very happy with these either.

I hoped to have it finished before the weekend.

I have busy gardening plans for this weekend, lots of weeding, weeding, weeding. Traditional Labour Weekend is usually time when all the gardeners in New Zealand plant their seedlings and potatoes and peas, so that they will be ready in time for the kiwi Christmas dinner. Mine have been in for a few weeks now, but I think I have to replant the peas, the snails have got to them first.

Then again I might not be weeding, if it is raining again, I could be stuck inside with a good book, my knitting and listening to music like this....Ravel String Quartet .
Have a great weekend !

Amidst the pink

2009-10-21T09:31:00.008+13:00

I have long been an admirer of the blog Resurrection Fern and I was surprised and delighted to read an article about the author in this magazine.
.

Margaret Ooman shares three of her beautiful crochet patterns for the little stones,

and I thought I would have a go at making one myself, here it is sitting amidst the pink.

Shades of the ocean

2009-10-20T11:22:00.005+13:00

The other day I found myself stuck inside on a rainy afternoon with two children. We had had enough Snakes and Ladders and a certain little boy thought that perhaps we could watch "Finding Nemo". They had both seen it before, but I hadn't and I was quite startled to watch at the very beginning of the movie little Nemo's mum and all his brothers and sisters being killed, leaving just him and his Dad.

I thought that it was quite a sad thing for little ones to see, but they were totally unpertubed, and took great delight to watch from time to time my reaction to the exciting , and scary bits in the film.

I guess I just have to harden up !
While all the action was happening under the water with Nemo and his friends I was spinning rapidly and yesterday produced this skein which will go in my etsy shop. It is 80 %merino and 20% silk and has turned out to be a luxurious skein of loveliness.

A very big thankyou

2009-10-17T20:08:00.010+13:00

What wonderful people you all are.

So many messages to encourage me and wish me well for my new Etsy shop, I am rather overwhelmed...... wow, so much love and good will out there, it is very heartwarming.

Thank you all so much !!

Melissa received over three hundred comments on her birthday post and all in all it has been rather an exciting time for the two of us in blogland !

This morning I was in my studio thinking about little things that I could make and I had a happy time creating these.

A needlecase made from a woollen blanket and some wool felt and flannel lining.

A little scissor keeper made with the same fabrics and some pink ribbon.

More rain is forecasted for tomorrow and we have two little grandchildren staying the rest of the weekend. It could be a day for snakes and ladders and chocolate chip cookies I am thinking.

Have a great weekend everyone!

A Birthday Greeting

2009-10-15T08:49:00.005+13:00

Melissa (tinyhappy) has a birthday today, and I have made her a quilt.

.The fabrics are mainly Japanese with solid small blocks of colour in between the larger squares. I hand quilted it with different colours of perle cotton no.8.

This morning I have been thinking back in my memory of that special day when she was born.

I felt so elated and excited and could hardly believe that she was mine.

My father came to see her when she was just two hours old, bearing a huge bunch of black tulips like these ones

and a very large bag of chocolate goodies, and Melissa and I were terribly spoilt with lots of visits from family and friends. What happiness I can conjure up just thinking about that magical time.

Ka nui taku aroha ki a koe dearest Melissa

Lilac

2009-10-14T14:25:00.007+13:00

I adore lilac and a few days ago the blossoms were just starting to appear on my small bush in the garden. I picked these blooms when the sun was shining and the birds were singing, and it made my heart very glad.

Today it is very stormy and cold. The rain has been pelting down incessantly, but in between the noise of the rain on the roof I believe I can hear the birds still singing, and the fragrance of the lilac is a sweet incense.

I have spent the day inside working on the computer and I would like to introduce you to my Etsy shop.

The craft stall that I went to last week was rather disappointing and I have decided to join the ranks of the Etsy hand crafters.

I am feeling very excited about this new adventure, probably more so than when I had a physical shop selling patchwork and quilting things.

I shall be selling handspun wool and knitted things, maybe some eco dyed wool, patchwork picnic blankets and other bits and pieces.

If you would like to have a look at what there is today just click on the link at the righthand top of this page.

A Knitting Story

2009-10-10T11:51:00.009+13:00

I have just spent a few rainy days at the end of the school holidays with five of my grandchildren.

We had so much fun, and it became a special time for me with one little girl who asked if I would show her how to knit.

I don't have a photo of Keira knitting...she was tucked into my side sitting on the sofa, her little hands dwarfed by my larger ones and her wee feet crossed at the ankles, every inch of her concentrating very hard. If I had a pic, it would be very cute !

Keira is four, and I started her off with ten stitiches on a pair of doublepointed needles with a knob of blue tack stuck on the end of each one...that was all I had with me at the time.

Her cousin Esmae is seven and has been knitting for a while now... here she is providing us with inspiration.

I managed to find time to cast off on a pinwheel blanket I have made for Esmae's new brother or sister that we are all looking forward to meeting in February.

After two miscarriages earlier I thought I would wait this time before mentioning the exciting news !

I have made several of these blankets before and have found them to be excellent for wrapping a newborn in...and the mum too, when she is feeding in the early hours of the morning.

I handspun some angora rabbit /merino mix and dyed the wool before I knitted it up in the pinwheel design that you can find here.

Simply Red

2009-10-05T12:43:00.008+13:00

I have had a busy week preparing for the stall tomorrow at Founders Park.

Our Creative Fibre group are having their AGM and everyone is invited.

I think there will be displays of handspun. woven, felted and knitted goodies for people to see as well as treats to eat, and certainly there will be many fibre related things to buy !

I also made time to baste this quilt top that I finished last year at this time ...in the Spring.

I had to show these pics because they go very nicely with this flower that I have been enjoying all week.

I call this waratah flower Simply Red but I think it's "proper" name is this.

Stash for the Stall

2009-09-30T10:30:00.003+13:00

More picnic blankets

needlecases and

pincushions

A little spotty and dotty

2009-09-24T15:30:00.007+12:00

Just a quick peek before it goes to a new home.

This quilt that I started quite a few years ago is finally finished.

I will show you a proper photo in a couple of weeks time, when it is unfolded and given to a special person, but until then......sshh....not a word .
That special person could see and then the surprise would be spoilt !

Patchwork is starting to take on a bit of a resurgance in my life lately, not that it ever really disappeared, and I do love hand piecing.

This is part of a star that forms a large hexagon.
I have made the stars before using the English Paper Piecing method, but this time I thought I would hand piece using Sarah's example

from Material Obsession 2.

I love her bright quilt with the spots and stripes she has used and it has been fun collecting all the spots and and dots I can lay my hands on !

Happiness is ....

2009-09-20T13:52:00.003+12:00

I have been appreciating the simple things in life lately...............health, family, friends and loved ones, music...and more music, flowers, mountains, gardens, trees, news of good things happening, the sea, books, art...and of course I could go on and on. I am sure you can all think of a few things yourselves.

An old friend and I were driving home from the funeral of a mutual friend.

Our friend was our age and she had a beautiful family and home, a wonderful busy, joy filled life that she lived to the full, and she was killed in an instant on a quiet stretch of road in the country on a sunny friday afternoon in a horrific car accident.

We were reminded once again how utterly precious life is, and our relationships too.

I had a quiet day to reflect and I finished my jumper.

Nearly There

2009-09-15T08:45:00.007+12:00

Two or three more hours and this could be finished, but with all the wonderful spring activity

happening outside in the garden, I am waiting for a quiet evening to knit the last little bit.

The tulips and other spring flowers are here for such a short time that I find myself outside with the intention of just wandering around admiring the blooms, but instead

I have a trowel in my hand and am running from one spot to the other with buckets of mulch, packets of seed, and a huge weeding bag.

Yesterday I had visitors coming over for supper, and I was in the garden thinking I will just do this little bit and then go inside, but changed my mind, and was down amongst the veges planting runner bean seeds when the sun went down,

and it didn't matter at all !

Patchwork and Picnics

2009-09-07T10:39:00.008+12:00

Spring has now officially arrived, and I am thinking about picnics and spending time lounging about outside. I have been invited to share another stall very soon and decided to make some patchwork picnic blankets.

This was the first one . I backed it with a cotton fabric and then realised that it wasn't thick enough for a picnic blanket, so decided it would be much nicer as a summer tablecloth.

I sewed a soft fleecy backing on the next one.

Then rolled it up into a little bundle and added some elastic and a button, and now it has become something that is easy to throw onto the back seat of a car, or in the basket of a push bike...

voila...picnic time !

I think I might use one to lie under this tree, and gaze at the sky studded with a mass of blossom that reminds me of confetti .

Soulful notes

2009-09-03T11:01:00.005+12:00

Long hours of rehearsing every night now until Saturday night when we are having another concert.

This one is our Young Musicians Concerto Concert and each night we are accompanying some very talented young players. My favourite is a young man .......Harry who is playing the Vieuxtemps Violin Concerto No.5, he looks about 12 yrs old, but is perhaps 13 or 14, I shall have to ask him tonight. He loves this concerto with a passion and plays it beautifully even though he is driving our conductor mad with his unexpected change of tempo throughout. I think what I like about him the most is his absolute ownership of the music and his confidence.

Henri Vieuxtemps is a Belgian composer, his parents were a weaver and an amateur violinist and his music gets to your very soul.

We once visited Belgium very briefly, and I had to hunt very carefully through lots of old photos to find this one taken in Antwerp ( I think.......umm I am now wondering if it is in Holland ? We were in both countries on the same day !)

Our orchestral leader told us the sad tale of Vieuxtemp's demise. After his stroke in 1879, he went to visit his daughter and son-in -law in Algeria and was walking down the street when he was knocked down by a brick-wielding drunkard in 1881, and died.

Anyway I thought you might like to hear a very old recording of the concerto. A young Leila Josefowicz playing in 1990.

Water Colour Flowers and Fibre

2009-08-31T09:12:00.006+12:00

My friend Jo came to visit me the other day bringing with her a little plastic bag of a few dark purple pansy flowers that she had put into her freezer...turning them into ice flowers.

She showed me how to put the petals into a little muslin bag and then dipping the bag into a jar of warm water and squeezing the iced flowers gently until their purple colour is released into the water.

This process produced a beautiful result...bright inky purple dye.

I quickly unwound a couple of balls of wool...one was a white ball of kidsilk haze that I had left over from a baby shawl. I poured the water from the jar into two plastic containers adding a few drops of white vinegar to one and then adding a tiny amount of strained woodash to the other, and the water in each container changed colour immediately.

I immersed the wool into the containers and left them overnight to soak up the dye...and this is what I had the next day.

The green kidsilk haze was from the container with the tiny amount of woodash and the lavender was from the container with the vinegar.

Jo and I had both learnt to do this from the Eco Colour Workshop that we attended a few months ago, with India Flint. Jo has been regularly honing her skills and experimenting with colour and different plants and producing some wonderful results especially with lengths of silks.

I have not been so productive, but am well and truly hooked now, especially with all this Spring growth in the garden.

There was a storm yesterday and rain poured down continuously. It was the perfect day for creating lots of steamy, smelly dyepots. Jo arrived with a stove top, large dyepots and stirring spoons and I went outside and collected a mix of diffferent plants from the garden. I chose wallflowers, buddlia, red silverbeet and oxalis flowers (of which I had plenty...how pleased I was that I hadn't weeded them all away last week.)

So we cooked up a marvellous brew and these are what I have to show today.

I have a pillowcase stuffed full of three and four ply baby wool, all in typical baby wool colours...you know don't you...aqua, lemon, pink and blue and white and I am going to redye all of them using these plant dyes.

Cheerio for now, I am off to stock up on purple pansy seeds !

A lovely diversion

2009-08-26T09:02:00.010+12:00

I always look forward to receiving Interweave Knits in my letterbox, and on Saturday morning when it arrived I knew what I had to do.

Sort through my stash and see if I could find a substitute yarn to make this;

I LOVE it, and didn't have to battle too long with my sensible self, who said in a very little voice "but what about all the other knitting that you haven't finished"."Ha , yes, what about that then ?"

No, my naughty, spur of the moment self decided to cast on as soon as possible.

I am using a 4ply soft Alpaca yarn instead of the yarn specified in the pattern, Road to China light,
which is a blend of alpaca, cashmere, camel and silk and far and away out of my price range.

The Inca wool comes from the trip I made to Norway last year, when I stood in a shop in Oslo as it was about to close, and randomly chose a few balls of my favorite colours. I shall use that as the fair isle pattern on the yoke, and for the main colour I had some 4 ply alpaca from a local shop here.

So, this sweater has been my very lovely diversion this week, but I shall share some pics of the Spring surprises also.

Hyacinths, and our beautiful plum tree.

I also enjoyed listening to Kathryn Williams and Neill MacColl, and this Come With Me is my favourite. Their CD Two is beautiful...take a listen and have yourself a lovely diversion today !

1/4 done

2009-08-19T15:15:00.005+12:00

I have just spent a very pleasant hour or two, sitting in the spring sunshine and sewing together the first six panels of the Heirloom Cabled Afghan. Hurray, I am a quarter through this lovely blanket, and so far have enjoyed the process very much. I am spinning the wool as I go, and there is lots happening in each panel with the cables to make it interesting to work on.

I carefully blocked each of the six pieces as I finished knitting, and today I was so pleased that I had. It was very easy to sew together, each piece fitted perfectly to it's neighbour and I used mattress stitch to avoid seams.

I think I am about a 1/4 through this throw as well on the loom. I have used a chocolate brown 4 ply warp, and am using two different merino/alpaca blends in oatmeal and a grey/brown, both DK weight, and every now and then I am throwing in a shuttle or two of bright orange tussah silk. The weave is a twill, and its shaping up to be very tweedy looking....uummm I think I rather like it.

New Shoots

2009-08-17T14:14:00.009+12:00

Would you like to take a ramble around the garden with me and see the new growth that is happening ?

Daffodils about to bloom beside my washing line.

These sweet peas seeds have just come through the potting mix that I planted in the egg carton. Dear little stems of green, what expectectations I have for you !

Our huge wattle tree, the flowers of which I cannot bring inside the house; they make me sneeze dreadfully, but their bright yellow clouds of fluffy blossom smell delicious.

The Datura Tree that is growing alongside the new rock garden. It's long flowers bloom in the summer and contain a very potent drug ( so I am told !)

Just a few steps away is the lovely Magnolia Stellata.

This princely Magnolia is almost ready to unfurl and produce a huge pink flower. It stands at bottom of our driveway, like a sentry.

These pretty and perky little polyanthus make me smile with delight each time I come home...they live at my back door.