... and the Countdown begins...

Wow! Just realised that in a few days, it will be December. Where did the year go?
The usual end of year panic has begun... the Christmas cards (where's the list?!), the shopping (gonna keep it real simple this year) and end of school exams plus buying new school books and uniforms for the next year. Gotta be done in the next few weeks as we will only have a week to spare before school starts next year.
yes ... and packing!
Our winters are so mild that I think we've no concept of what's going to hit us when we arrive at our holiday destination .. the US Nth East Coast.
Our downunder Christmases are warm to hot affairs. Traditional turkeys and Christmas hams with seafood galore topped with BBQs done by BBQ 'chefs' dressed in shorts and thongs and beers in hand. An orgy of food, drink and great weather to welcome the new year!
**********************************************************************

I'm not sure if we'll ever be prepared for this


Although this last photo looks promising.............

Knitty City, Here I COME!

RED she said

DD loves red. Never got to spin that red roving I gave to Celia but she had wanted something out of it - beanie, scarf, anything.
I need to get going on knitting these for our impending holiday. Then I saw "Fetching" at www.knitty.com. I'm not a fan of fingerless gloves as black ones always remind me of Fagin and dirty sooty hands. Why not "Fetching" in red? :)

"My Knitted Nightie"

There pics were for Auntie SK of me in my knitted nightie.

I think I need a much more modest neckline. The stripes don't do anything for my figure at all!

John Mayer - A Great Concert!

This young man is so talented!
Here's a grab from Youtube - John Mayer: In Repair
and DS wishes he could play like this - Gravity
We had a fantastic nite watching him jam and enjoyed his insightful, cheeky comments.

More links here - Sydney Enmore Th on Tim Tams- 3/11/2006
and at www.johnmayer.com/blog
and www.myspace.com/johnmayer

Check out the song "Belief"
(excerpt lyrics below - from JM's "Continuum" CD)

"....belief is a beautiful armor
and makes for the heaviest sword
like punching underwater
you never can hit who you're trying for
some need the exhibition
and some have to know they tried
it's the chemical weapon
for the war that's raging on inside
oh, everyone believes
from emptiness to everything
oh, everyone believes
and no one's going quietly

we're never gonna win the world
we're never gonna stop the war
we're never gonna beat this
if belief is what we're fighting for

...what puts a hundred thousand children in the sand?
belief can, belief can
what puts a folded flag inside his mother's hand?
belief can, belief can"

Comfort Knitting

I guess it takes a freight train to slow me slow down. It's been a while since my last post. These weeks were filled with mostly events to do with our younglings - both starting new schools next year. Info nites, assessment tests, orientation days.
Bear with me while it unravels as I'm typing along here...
hmmmm...
DS - 3 Athletic meets culminating with a 3rd place in the 400m. He thinks the 400m might be his event now but he loves cross country as well. Decisions, decisions as he's been recommended by his current teachers to join a proper Athletics club. I'm glad he's fit, skinny as a beanpole and eating us out of house and home.
His new school's info nite is this Wednesday and it will be another mad day for me, rushing from the school to John Mayer's 'Continuum' concert. We missed his 'Heavier Things' concert 2 years ago and so looking forward to this sold out session here in Melbourne.

DD - I feel for her. I've forgotten how clique-y and bitchy young girls can be. Brand new school, she knows no one there but she's excited about it. It's a great school and I hope it gives her that extra lift that she needs. She's showing that she might be a runner too. Absolutely no practice and she was placed 3rd in our zone athletics meet as well. Look out, DS bwahahaha! In the meantime, she cruises along seemingly unfazed.

DH - much of the same old at work. Just finished his 1st year end in the new position and like me, looking forward to a break when the holidays come around at the end the year. Took some weeks off weekend tennis so I could go do this little course.

Me? ah yes the freight train. In addition to being a mad mum, I'm enjoying this CAE short course "Design a Fashion Collection". So totally not what I expected but it's great change from my day to day blur. It's been 3 weeks and now we get to pick a theme to base our designs on...yes! I was thinking of "Medieval Disco" at first but I'm leaning towards "Genghiz Khan goes to Studio 54".
Freight Train? oh yes...that. Medical R&R - just 2 days and all I could really think about was what I'd be taking to knit with me and perhaps posting more blog entries.
Typical knitter.
Comfort knitting....even if I get to knit only one row and it may not even end up as a finished piece of work, it IS comforting. My latest inventions are 1 skeins projects that require short attention spans. I've also discovered since I started knitting extra bulky yarn how I love love LOVE knitting laceweight. I don't mind bulky. It has suited me to a T for what I can cope with now but laceweight is where my heart is. Here's a pic of my mess... :)

Possessed by a beading frenzy

DH said "You're going to wreck it"....

My new Marc Jacobs jeans had to be taken up and looking at it's custom frayed hem, I wasn't willing to cut and hem it. I didn't even have time to ponder. My alter ego consumed me and off I went.... with DH looking over my shoulder singing..."You are surely going to wreck your pair of designer jeeeeaaaannnsss"

So here it is...cuffed and beaded. I drew the pattern while watching TV and finished it with beads from my goodie box of BEADS over 3 nites. Yes no knitting! Utterly consumed by beading after knitting monogamously.
I quite like it and DH is still teasing me.
Now I can go back to knitting quietly.......

Third time lucky....

The rogue sleeve...frogged twice...aarrghhh.
My fault. I lost track of where I was even with the row/stitch markers and a notebook. Hopefully it'll work out 3rd time lucky!
Just hope it's not going to be too small for DD when it's finished.
And yes, it's official... She's now taller than Mum at the tender age of 11 and a half years. Out of my spring cleaning, she has also inherited my flattering dance pants coz I'm too...uhm wide for them already :). She also has Mum's jeans from her Uni days - all torn and trendily worn at the right places.
I'm also wearing her sandals coz they're too small for her....sigh!
Except for some essentials, we're holding on as much as we can so we can do some more serious shopping at the US outlets if our intended trip works out....woo hoo!

Still Here!

WOW! Time sure has flown!
It has been an eventful 7 (?) weeks spurred on by changes, visitors and ....spring cleaning!
Yes, I started early this year. Was going thru DD and DS's wardrobe, taking out all the clothes that are too short, small etc and got overzealous. Started getting in to my own clothes and had pretty good time chucking things out.
And of course, VANITY took over. Not usually a follower of fashion, I decided that I needed to look my age and yet stylish....hmmm, pretty difficult considering that the retail market is still overflowing with casual, teen to late 20s garb.
Then I did something out of character (for me at least!). Had heard about the personal shoppers/image consultants at dept stores and decided I'd get an appointment with one.
80 minutes later, I emerged ... with a lighter wallet and face glowing with excitement like when I've been very very naughty. I did WARN DH before going!
Bought 4 items (Marc Jacobs, Morrisey and Table Eight) and I must say, I feel better wearing things that actually fit me! Went round to show my GF the items I had purchased a few days later and all of them were gone!
Which makes me think that whatever stock that goes into sales must not be good. I'm so over sales binges now.

The experience?
The personal shopper I had was excellent! She took in what I liked/disliked, my budget and gave me pointers etc and most importantly, an honest opinion. What I liked about it also was that there was no extra charge for her time and I wasn't obliged to buy anything:). Tried over 30 items and she picked some things that I would have never thought could look good on me or looked like nothing on the hangers.
She deserves 5 stars for excellent service!

Will post more about what's been happening!

Knittin' and spinnin'

Progress so far on my DD's tween top. Have stopped the main body to work on a sleeve to match up the armhole. DD's scarf has progressed nicely as well.
Have been a good girl this time and not strayed from this project (one wip woman) but I'm finding it hard - hands are itchin' to do something else so I'm back to some basic spinning to keep my mind off another knitting wip.
Am only a beginner and definitely needing more practise in drafting evenly. My very first bobbin!
I must say I've got some ideas for at least 2 patterns for the warmer weather though...
just need to finish this top before I start the next.

In the meantime, there are babies everywhere! Friends and acquaintances with new babies and impending births. Not to mention toddlers...

My big scaredy cat here is beginning to understand that getting in the car does not always mean it's time to go to the vet. We've only been in the car umpteen times!
He doesn't look like he's quite convinced ......

It's been a long week already and I'd rather be knitting...

right here...

A girl can dream, can't she?



boy, do I need a break.....

knitting my latest wip, enjoying gyros, mousaka, stuffed zucchini flowers, saganaki, calamari, charcoal grilled octopus, dolmades, lots of dips! and ouzo and fine wine........

Sigh......Now I have to go and get dinner started... :(

DD's scarf

Here's DD first ever scarf....
I must admit that it's going along quite nicely. She does occasionally gain or lose a stitch which can be easily fixed. Homespun is quite a forgiving yarn for her as a beginner. You can't see mistakes :) ! She keeps asking how many rows she knitted and how many more she needs. She's averaging 6 to 10 rows a day while watching TV at nite and is impatient to have it finished before school starts!

Here's a pic of some lovely yarn I bought from Celia earlier this year. Did swatches ages ago and was toying around with ideas for tops as I think they're too beautiful for socks! There are some scrawls and sketches in my notebook that I'm trying to make out now.... (what was I thinking???!!!). They're both fingering weight and I'm thinking of combining the 2 for a lacy exercise....
or should I do lacy socks??

Early Spring Cleaning...

Did some spring cleaning here at the blog this morning.
Have removed a few entries. My initial intention was to have a knitting diary and a portfolio of my original work 'published' here. However, have decided to remove some of the items due to copyright and publication issues should some of these have some commercial prospects.
Which leaves me in a quandary...
What can I post now?
Was going to say that I haven't knitted a published pattern for many years now. One exception at the start of this year was socks. Had not knitted one before. Otherwise, most projects have been inspired by need or pure passionate knitting fun. Any suggestions?


Meanwhile, DD's jumper is progressing nicely and I'm considering giving it some shape as I'm at the waistline level. Hoepefully, DD won't protest ;)!

Congratulations, Celia!

and make that a Triple!
Celia (www.celiaknits.blogspot.com) has 2 patterns in this issue of Yarn magazine!
You go girl! Not to mention lovely news about the pitter patter of little feet for her and hubby!

Awwwwww!


As for the knitting front, I'm trying to consolidate my patterns and start submitting some of them to magazines or like publications. Have never done this before! Finding it a bit daunting and am looking forward to any feedback that I hope to get. If things go to plan, I'll be cleaning up some of my old posts on patterns that may have some commercial possibility. I must thank Clara at the Knitters Review for her incredible timing on this. Her post and comms added some assurance that I needed at the time to get it all going.

Currently on the needles is a jumper for DD -
A straight stk stitch would have been an easy knit for this especially with the colour but I'm trying to see if cables might add to the overall texture and feel of the garment. It's had a bit of inevitable frogging (made a boo boo on the initial calcs!) but I think at least I've settled down on getting what I can visualise at this stage.
DD is at the age where the colour Pink won't do...nup not Purple either.... it's gotta be a certain shade of Red...and she finally settled on the blue!
She's also knitting her very first scarf in this yarn!

"Zhang Zhuek" - May Festival

Haven't made these for years and we thought it'd be great to let the kids have a go. The Rice Dumpling Festival was on Wednesday 31/5/2006 and DD and DS had fun trying to shape these triangular pyramids (as DS calls them) and securing them without the contents spilling out!
Not knowing much about why we go to so much trouble to make and eat this, I found this link on the web http://www.knowingfood.com/ricezongfest.html Ingredients and shapes differ with each dialect but all so yummy!
The whole process takes a whole 24hrs and this depends how many one makes. We thought we'd make about 60 but in the end, we managed to double it!
All consumed within 24hrs as well!
The kids wld like to do this again and we probably will in a few weeks!

My Bonsai Dream...OT knitting

A break from posting knitting updates....
What you are looking at a Bonsai attempt of a Zelkova Serrata in a broom style.
Ah yes, these things never turn out like the nice photographs in the Bonsai coffee table books...sigh!

Was talking to a old classmate (KW - a renewed acquaintance after 30 years) and we are both fledging bonsai amateurs. Or at least I am!
Having been fascinated and inspired by pics like the one below, I just had to try it... ..







Just look at the real thing! Isn't it beautiful?


















Admittedly, my Zelkova Serrata is only in it's second winter after the 'broom cut' so I do have a long way to go with establishing its branch network. In total, it is only ten years old.
I do have another Zelkova in training just in case I lose this one (heaven forbid!)
and these are my other babies (maples and liquid amber) - only about 3 yrs old?














I may try a minature azalea or camelia this spring again if I see any promising stock. I have not had much luck with the flowering kind and lost quite a few general BITs (bonsai-in-training) to our scorching summer days.
Now back to knitting!

A Mother's Day gift...

My DGD surprised me with an early Mother's Day gift and it's funny how coincidences happen! She gave a beautiful Clematis (which is still in bloom after 1 week!) Such long lasting flowers! She hadn't known that the LaBoheme yarn that I was experimenting with was called Clematis.
I tried to drape the finished stole beside it's namesake for a pic but one must admit, these flowers are just amazing!


I'm hoping it's not to late to repot it close to our wisteria as it is getting quite cool now and there won't be much warmth left in the ground.
Have to check if it's deciduous! Don't know much about it.

What to knit for teenagers nowadays?

Our weather is getting colder and we have had 2 weeks of winter-ish rain and temperatures. Now that the socks are finished and the possibility of more Oscars and Carolines to be made,
have been looking to knit something for DS and DD who are now fashion conscious teenagers. I'd like to make something practical for washing without looking too fuddy-duddy. Have been thinking of designs with a bit of 'tude that won't end up at www.youknitwhat.blogspot.com.
(I think I have a simple slim fit cable sweater in mind for DS.)
Even our dog needs a new jumper!

How Many Knitting Needles, Crafts and WIPs do you have?

Time has flown!
Have been digging out all my known stash points...yes, only known coz I'm sure I have some places I've forgotten about...
I'm a Clutterbug.. no doubt about that, yes! And an undeniable craft junkie.
Managed to find
1) 1 unfinished cross- stitch project (abandoned when long sightedness set in).
2) Ribbon embroidery books and kits (and remembered that I was also fascinated with stumpwork too but thankfully no stumpwork kits...phew!)
3) 1 unfinished candle wicking cushion and a book of candle winking patterns.
4) loads of cross stitch kits
5) Beads - lots and lots of beads!
6) have to add my newly acquired craft - jewelry findings and making kit
7) Crochet cotton and books
8) Tatting shuttles and books
9) plus 3 knitting WIPs
10) 3 knitting patterns in design stage.
11) Lots of novelty buttons for knitting projects.
12) 1 beaded tassle making kit
13) 2 stashes of roving and linen flax (and 1 spinning wheel!)

Amidst all this, did a count of my needles...Not as bad as I thought, although have found 8 pairs of 3.25mm, 6 pairs of 2.75mm, 5 pairs of 3.75mm and another 5 of 4mm.....hmmmm, sure don't remember buying that many! 53 pairs in total - not counting DPNs.

Have sorted out stuff to donate to the local op shop/Diabetes Foundation and I should be able to rope DD into doing the cross stitch and beading projects with me. Nothing really worth ebaying unfortunately.

After this 'spring' cleaning session, I'd like to put it out there to my fellow knitters/bloggers:-
Sahara, Cindy, Ruth, Celia, Franklin and anyone who pops in for a read
How Many
1) Knitting Needles
2 Crafts
and
3) WIPs do you have?

Woes of a Blog Reader...

a quick post here to say I've been busy reading reading all my fav bloggers and winding up not posting on mine! Ah, typical!
Hope to catch with some photos of a finished LB Magic Stripes Bright Spring Pattern sock, a WIP toe up sock with Regatta and ( I've finally decided on the name Oscar!) putting Oscar together!

I've had some bad news too - Caroline is missing! Posted her on 1st of Feb to Houston and she has well and truly gone AWOL.
So whoever you are out there, you just nicked my gift to my niece! Shame on you...
Anyone know a good knitter's curse?

Ooops! Tagged again!

Popped in to update the blog... have finished my first Lion Brand Magic Stripes socks in Bright Spring pattern. Had adjusted the sock pattern to fit my mum's feet and now I have enough leftover for at least one more sock! maybe another pair of socks with solid colour for the feet?
I decided to look up a toe up sock pattern on the web and found a fantastic one at Wise Needle. Working up to the heel using the Lion Brand Regatta now. This colorway is much more pleasant although the yarn feels thinner than BSP.
I was just catching up with reading all my fav blogs and I saw I've just been tagged!
(Hi Cindy! :))
5 things in my refrigerator...hmmmm...
1) Milk - a definite must. With 2 teens, we chug down 10 litres per week. And we always love our freshly grounded coffee (Vanilla blended with Colombian.....beautiful aroma!) after dinner.
2) Butter - I really dread the day when I have to adhere to a strict diet for medical reasons.
Just can't give up my basics like beautiful golden butter!
3) Choy Sum and Egg Noodles - I keep this handy for whenever we've feeling a bit stumped for dinner options. Instead of soup noodles, I make a lovely dry noodle sauce (no, not just soy sauce) and with a 10 min walk down to the local Chinese BBQ shop for char siu or siu yoke or soy sauce chicken or roast duck, this makes such a great alternative.
4) Golden Delicious Apples - always handy to have as a snack
5) Been outvoted here - DS and DD says Ice Cream! (for obvious reasons!)
let's tag..... Trish, Celia and Ruth!