Sunday nearly gone

The last day before I go back to that place,Ive cooked and spun and tryied to make something of the garden ( I mowed and Son No 3 dug and pulled out rabbit proof fence)
Its over cast and very mild today,perfect movie watching knitting day but son 5 is having issues with science homework for which he left all his notes at school 67 kms away,hes goign to be introuble but at least he will ahve the requirments such as draft,good copy which hes going to get to the library and add his figures from experiment some how tomorrow and another third component? hmmm cant remember something like a self check,experiment writing is certainly different to what I did in year 11 and 12....variables dependant,independant and what ever,gee we just wrote up our experiments,simple and easy to read,this is year 8,it goes to show how little that school prepares its students
Today I have succesfully made these

And washed these..

Some are old ones and one is Hubbys new ones ,in 8 ply Patonyle and theres a gift set in there too,hopefully there ll be a few more added soon as I knit my way trough the stash,still have a years worth of STR club,havent had time to knit the gorgeous patterns that came with them so keep putting them off but will probably just use a simple one of my own as I cant have them sitting there languishing,time is the worst enemy

Also in the middle is my lovely new BFL hand spun dyed socks,cant wait to wear these....

Theres another two balls of SC green brown Corrie but I forgot to get a pic of them so maybe when dry.. Ive started the last top so will be ready to knit them soon...

I better go crack the whip so Benji can at least get what he can together to print out for assignment,he has a biograghy to write Monday and Tuesday,800 words,and he cant remember if hes done the draft yet or if only the draft he needs by Wednesday..talk about absent minded,it like beating my head agaisnt a brick wall in this house....

Oh I found this too,very handy to twig the memiries a bit....

Off for 4 days

Got up early yesty on my monthly RDO transfered from last Friday and had big plans to bi og out certain areas of the house,then I just went down hill with something akin to severe hayfever or a fluey type thing,Im right into the Nyal Sinus and the Cold and Flu tablets the  herbal ones and they seem to work much better than the medicated stuff that seems to make me sky high.The good old Liquid Sudifed for Children was the best one out til the druggos got it and made impossible for us poor souls to have it for medical reasons,the tablets make me ill even though it was the same constituents...anyway im still feeling down energy wise and just want to sleep.I got a bit done though and tomorrow Ill do the vegie garden and plant some new winter stuff next wednesday. Thinking broccolli,peas, beetroot,carrots and parships,broadbeans,Im at least a month behind but the weathers been so dry and with my long hours I just coudnt get to it
My garden

Disgusting considering I had heaps of flowers and pretty things before I started work! Anyway son 3 dug it up this summer then Hubby decided to add  his bit but both let the lawn get rightinto it,took me two hours to cut it down and  pull out a much as  I could

Spinning front,Im endevouring to get the last of this SC top finished so I can wash this lot and I found another one tucked in the cupboard the Ill do another of Charleis bunny tops that I found,its rainbow which I want to ply with some turquoise top,I should get enough for a wrap or top down of some sort

Kitting I did the ribbing for the pink vest but until I see it on Ill reserve my opinion whether to redo front and lower the V,it is quite high and measurement are pretty close...anyhow Im kitchener stitching the shoulders of Abalone tonight and trying it on before I pick up and do the arms and neck. Then I hope get Atelier out and make some progress there too,rehomed some gorgeous Malabrigo in Smke that arrived today which I need another 5 I think to do another Atelier,love the casual style of that sweater cardigan,well I do at the moment,Ill be firmer on that when I finish the Envy one from Skein!!

This lot Im thinking of a shawl pattern that I down loaded last night but forgotten the name of,rich colours

Heres another........

Rain rain rain

It hasnt stopped since about 5am yesterday morning,mostly dizzle but some heavier stuff in between,I think we re up to about three inches so far and its cool and damp the sortb that acan make a house a little musty but wonderful for baking and knitting or spinning

 

I finished plying the SC Enchanted top braid last night,I thinkn theres one more hidden in here some place,I hope to cast on for a vest of some kind very soon,maybe Ill take it with me and knit the nights away while on my trip back East. Abalone is nearly done too,so hope its a good fit!
I wish I had a craft or studio where I cold keep my body form set up for sizing,trying to fit a knitted item up against one self to see if it long enough or the arm is deep enough is funny awkward and totally a waste of time........
Ive got a ball of blue green Tanis Fiber Arts ,merino cashmere fingering at 375yards ,thought this one might work....
PS I managed to edge the garden both front and back too yesty in and between the storms

A little damp

Today I was going to spend a few hours snippering and mowing my back yard and doing something towards a winter vegie garden even though its getting late in the year,then Cyclone Lua decided to come our way and if it was decent rain I would be happy but its light damp cool rain(not soaking rain either which so desparatly wanted here,bull dust everywhere) that you cant really do much in and makes the whole day an inside knitting sewing day,cant complain really thats what I would love anyway but the whole yard and house is sooo scruffy AND i think Im coming down with something.
My days are so full of everything else that I dont get more than one night to myself now,frustrating,theres surgery looming so wanted to finish a few UFOs and clear out crap build up,oh well just keep working it could pull togther...

Earlier I heard a few brave boys going out to do this...bet they ll be a different colour when they get back,so glad Son no 1 is out at work,"Wattle Dam" hes mending broken buckets..he was late this morning and I dont think he got time to get his crib before the bus came so Id better get something nice together tonight,I rather fancy a roast with pudding to follow lets see if i can wing it...

Oops forgot a title...

Its been and up and down week but it ended well with a trip to the Rec Centre for a lovely meeting with a equally nice group of ladies to make some cards for Easter,I was so tired I just made two of the four activites,but was just as happy to sit and talk,came home to a messy cluttered house but didnt cry just took my cuppa to bed and finished off this book I picked up on Wednesday.
I vow over the next few weeks Im going to start decluttering house, pass my extra art supplies onto art teacher a school,donate the bit os craft stuff to Home Ec so they can make use of it more than me, and start weeding out craft magazines,thinking of taking a few down to the swap destash pile at Toodyay,also go through my bulging cupboard and see if I can whittle down that area too

The man card isnt finished yet,I have to find my foam stickers to lift the two pieces (the black and stamp bits) and hey,they are very amature but it was still fun,I have far too many hobbies now but stamp and card making is something Id love to do,the machinery and bits to go with this hobby are quite expensive... I have a small collection of stamps and a bit of paper collection and will ad as I go.I dearly would like a few sheep stamps...

Proof of spinning too,trying to get a few UFOs out of the way before the specialist gets a hold of me and also to take on my trip,trying to work out how I can carry my Victoria,camera set up and backpack on the plane,have a sneaking suspicion the spinning wheel wont fit their size thingy...though I just checked and they are popular wheels for plane carry ones!

A wattle bird and a ring neck or "28" parrot in the same tree

Well they usually hate each other!!

Auto Knitter Simplex

Well Ive got as far as making a tube but the heel proved a bit more hmm lets say back to the drawing board,I think it needs weights more on the heel than previuosly thought but I wont be playing again til next weekend..

 Ive shredded too much now but hopefully Ill have a product to show soon!

its quite fascinating to watch and with use and much lubrication runs smoothly enough,the clicking of the cams is mesmerising too!

Oh and a flat rabbit for something different

Taffy Girl being spoilt just because shes allows it for now

I found ...

an inspiring blog,this one is patchwork and sewing with links to so many others,theres so many talented peoples out there..

Im off to see if I can salvage more needles for autoknitter and hopefully  get some sort of result today before I have to go to shop to check its state for tonight....oh and finish seconf bobbin of Southern Cross Corrie in the delightful greens browns and teals,should have enough for that Noro round neck vest very soon..its the one in top middle row,think its DK in weight but I should be able to tweek it to my favour!

Wow!!!!!!!!!!

I have got to try this..........
 http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEss12/PATTcarousel.php  
Ill start this weekend

Hmm missed a few days, me thinks

What a week,I spent most in a dream, tired and run down and panicking at our future,still aiming to get back to see my Mum,really hoping I can cause I want to see them all and spend time in female company,I haven t had much time with Mum as an adult,she still treats me like most Mums I suppose that I dont know what Im doing,lol a week should help us get along as two girls not one over the other
Im nearly done with Abalone,pics tomorrow when I have light,Im nearly done with second Lorna sock and Ive done with main body of vest just need to sew shoulders and ribbing on arms and neck,so hoping it will fit...
Found a beaut online shop to buy some fabric too,silk cotton voile style at $11 and fine linen all in white for $10 approx at 150m a metres,I want need, will have a white upmarket shirt,a classic style so I can have a choice of classy or formal choice. Oh the shop is Rathdowne Fabrics Remnants,might look at some fine wool from later for a pair of pants...

Just a little Velvet Gecko,a pretty good close up from my new phone!

Sunday long Weekend in March

Well i did get called to shop on Friday the girls were having a bit of trouble catching up and I did come down with a bug that appears to have gone away and left a mild sense of unwell and a touchy nose,Id like to think it was the zinc tablets I got into, 2 twice a day plus these natural things with Horseradish 2mg,Elderflower 2mg and White willow 1mg from Ethical Nutrients,very similiar to the Nyall Sinus relief. ZRoughly teh same ingredients as well, This morning I got the vitamins outs with more of the herbal stuff and tonight its zinc again,dont mix zinc and multivitamins as theres been a suggestion that together they can speed up senile dementia,forgetfulness etc
I made inroads into my very disgusting house,cobwebs everywhere and general clutter,i actually threw out some yarn today just a few balls of stuff I found at the op shop ages ago... i did repack the Twilleys Freedom denim half finished back for a cardigan started about 5 years ago,(my hands were blue after knitting with it)Im getting through a few UFOs simply due to study being on hold.Today im going trough Youtube for sock machine instructions and having a concerted effort at learning the Autoknitter (mines only a plain black one but it gives a clear idea of what it looks like ,oh and I havent got a stand yet either),if I can get it underw ay it ll put probably at least 120lites of sock yarn into my drawers and out of storage,most of it is Opal and that not very nice to knit,cashmere like Casbah  from Handmaiden has me spoilt now,still have afew left but dont know what to cast on for yet,one has faults in the dye so it will be sockies but the spare will be a cowl,just have to find the just right pattern..
Managed to get to the hair dresser yesty and got a shock at the cost,Ill be doing my own before long,lol,but Im happy with the colour and cut.
This is where I rather be today, this weekend....

Friday, thank God

Here I sit,hopefully a reprieve and the shop can run without me tonight,I think Im either developing my sons bug that kept him home last week for 4 days or a bad case of hayfever,bugger,have to get up early tomorrow too as I couldnt get to town for a hair cut this week, had to take an 8am appointment in the morning,that means up at 6.30 and on the road at at least 7.10 to make in time,and hopefully without being sick and enough time to grab a coffee before I get to the hairdressers...
One positive,Im half way up the shoulders on the Jo Sharp Ultra Vest,shouild in theory have it done tonigh but I cant see that happening,I also started the second green sock AND am nearly finished the first ball of some handspun for the Abalone Vest

Look at much yarn I have left,thats the best thing about Charleys angorino top,its weightless and goes forever.was supposed to be about 180 metres in that ball,I wish I could remember what its name was.This super light and quishy! I have other colours in the stash so theyll be on the hit list this winter.

I frogged this once,it looked like being huge,now Ive measured it(all I did was cast on small size rather than medium,and knit tighter on the 5.5mm needles at a tension of 16 sts per 10cm,the pattern called for 13) and its on par with the small size and although I tend to knit longer in the body with vests etc this time Ive stuck with the design as I thought being the elements of which attracted me Ill give it a crack,even if I dont like it it will be a great weekend top at home over a turtle neck.Valley yarns,Sugar Loaf,48% synthetic microfibre,had to put the nasty first but 52% merino,its soft and drapey so if I dont knit a cowl with the left overs Ill destash on Ravely,wish Id picked a different colour,maybe blue or deep red...

Look what the neighbours are sharing over the fence

 and even better look what on my Brown Turkey fig tree has....had to show DH what a fig flower was heheh!

 

Oh and a quick pic of green socks to refresh memory,such a pretty colour!

Wordless Wednesday

Many legs!

The boys called into the kitchen las night to see this fello sitting presumably incognihto up the corner of one wall..failry common as in its name of a common house centipepde, I get the idea its not endemic to Australian according to Wiki but I may be wrong.. http://esperancewildlife.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/centipede-scutigeridae-sp.html Heres a bit more information about this funny looking insect!! Its really fast and appears to be cause its so mesmerising as it flits across the floor,mind you this one was abit slower as it had been locked up all night so i could get some close photos!

Gorgeous colours!

Heres a good shot of his eyes

And one more for luck!

And the watercolour class was good ,not as good as I hope, we were quashed in and it was a bit warm though I didnt feel as much the others seem to,the part of being squashed is not due to the organisers or the Art Centre but the failure of the Council to provide adequate housing for the arts in this area.Most people wouldnt care as the money could probably better go towards childrens/Teens facilites but to keep many people happy in a often lonely isolated area,it is still a need for well being of the community, the arts centre also catered for the crafts like patchwork and childrens crafts.The hosts provided endless coffee, tea and biccies plus a lovely meal of rissoles hand made for either salad or hamburger style lunch,I wasnt too enthused with the recipie handed out where the description was that to make it go further, shredded potato was added,I realised the need for frugilty to make ends meet but I would have been happy to bring a cold platter or a cake for smoko,maybe next time. It was great to meet others and be in a like minded group though. I do however have to remind myself not to talk about my own stuff like spinning etc cause one person was keen to meet later to learn spinning,I should go to the arts people and get them interested in putting on a spin day one weekend and maybe extend it to the next town for numbers. A bit nervous as per usual as I ve never met any of these people before and dont want to insult them as I simply dont have time to garentee my own participation. working a full time job and managing family business if soul draining,I think once things hot up my weekdays will be up to 12 hours or more on half the week with the weekends being up to 8 hours daily.
My effort anyhow,not very happy with it so will do something else later,a bit of gouche and white wash to recede the back ground and more textures in the forground like rocks and foliage,and I DO NOt like using that masking fluid...

I got in and mowed the three foot high lawn and made ambitous plans to resurect the vegie garden to compensate for the lack of quality of local shops and money,Im hoping Dh wont want to get in and try to make it a gigantic thing that full of weeds and low producing,half the time I not allowed to touch this or that cause hes saving next years seed,lol
More pics,the pink ones are an old Patonyle print,sooo nice to knit with and the blue is the Lornas laces,cant remember what colour name from Yarnivorous destash a long time ago!

Fluffy scarves,had to do these for the instant gratification means,not warm really but quick and fun but not like those fur scarves that were so popular not so long ago

Heres a close up of the colours

 Love all of these but the last one is really pretty,The blue ones is mine I think the purpley one may be a Mums day gift along with the pink socks up there,the gold one Im thinking of giving to the only person at work who gave me a gift last Christmas(the other lady is gone but Ill catch up with her later)
Right Im off to stash dive to find some handspun for that Abalone pattern,want to start it soon!

So excited,Im doing a water colour class today,I have exactly well almost,lol an hour to get ready,Im taking some of my own brushes and maybe paitn too though all is provided including lunch,I was going to make an apple cake to take but also thought I was riding this

But as now we have two cars again I can drive there,I might copy out a photo of something I wantt o paitn just in case we re offered an option to do so,dont want to offend tutor Sheryl Fasolo!
Im making headway with a couple of knitting things,finishing off that Lornas laces sock was wonderful,Must take pics,maybe tomorrow in between cleaning yard,its out of control,cant see the rabbits...
There progress on a Jo Sharp Ultra vest,Issue 1," A fine Romance" that was supposed to be in Ultra  but Im using Sugar Loaf by Valley yarns,merino tencil mix,absolutely divine to knit,very soft and drapey,I dont think its still available,its not on Webs anymore,that wonderful shop, I get lost in there. I found the wool I need for the other two projects,Plain and Simple Vest just not sure whether to go with sage green or charcoal black,and also need to find the handspun from Charley I did ages ago,two lots Im combining for the Abalone vest
Ok I must dash but Ill leave you with another of the very patient Alexander Beetle (who knows the song?) Patient 'cause he waited a week to be photographed in a little home of grass and fresh water

Wordless wednesday

YES Siree

Im done,Im finished,its gone and Im a free study bird for a wee while,what to do,heavens the days nearly over so no real spring clean stuff,thatll be for the odd day this week,tommorow ill be back to being buggered from work where after a quick looky yesty have a humongous bloody mess to clean up after something happened I didnt know about,Im a mushroom as per usual
Anyhow Now Im starting to get the stuff together to finish some UFOs like the projects I have hiding under my desk,Ill get them out prob on Tuesday and put them in urgency easy etc and then line up the ones I want to start,like a couple of shawls and another jacket in Auntys wool,may dye a little for a feature yet,then strat that black alpaca for the one I wanted to use the yellow grey handspun on,wow I have heaps to pick from,I wont get too much free time but I can do a bit at night after work
OK breathless for now,Im going stash diving....leave you with this

Yes new shoes,I felt so naughty but they came back pure leather for $30 a pair,Ill get a least 4 years out of them if I take care...

I like comfort yes I do....

And this is one of the transparencies I did for this assignment

heres a closer look
And one my favourite exercises...a bugs belly!

Im off to stash dive while I can....

Wild and wooly!

The weather has been stinking up to today,over 40 its felt like but now cooling with strong bustery winds and thunderstorms scooting overhead,got a little bit of rain this morning about 10.15 just enough to make it so much more humid,yuck,I flew home on my bike at 210 changed showered etc and back to shop to set up for the girls,have one assignment due on Sunday so have a repreave from working there for a another couple of days to concentrate on the Uni stuff, not thats been any good,you can bet your bottom dollars something will happen,and I get called in...so love Wednesdays and Tuesdays,I convinced DH to close for those low income days,it was costing more in wages,summer time,trades slow.
Heres my play painting I got carried away with.oils,I thought of teh snow fields but sam suggsted it reminded him of the sanddunes at Munglinup.What s the verdict? I love it ether way and with a bit more experimentation Ill start to see a style in this medium soon!

This unit ends with a concentration of exercises

Blue flowers

still knitting but no pics yet,got tomorrow off from one site(work) will endevour to get some then,I just start planing a special knit for the long weekend in June too

Hot

Well after some unusually cool weather we have finally got back to hot and windy weather,so glad Im not at work tomorrow,the wind knocks me around now and the sun seems to be hitting my skin harder than before,the uniform sunsafe shirts are not in my opinion sun safe,Im covered in freckes across my shoulders and I dont go out in the sun bare so it has to come from the hours spent working in it.
This weekend i doing up to 24 exercises to finiah an assignment,mostly experimental stuff and is fun but I wish I had more time to do it properly,cutting corners will lose me marks but interestingly I have picked up some marveous technique and am dying to try some ideas after I get this gone,every afternoon im going to work at least as much as I can to finish it a bit earlier,last week I no hope with work and after work stuff getting in the road,feeling guilty to be taking time off  study but boy the things I aim on doing but most importanly its the opportunity to relax at night and play even if I am pizza lady for a few days as well.
Impasto I love thee
And this artist,heaven!!!



Carol Nelson  just look at those colours and rich textures,Im dying to try this techique,jsu have to get this darn assignment gone...
On the knitting front Ive finished a sock and now have to find its matching ball for second,Ive started an ply toe in hot pink,Ill decide on a pattern later,I aim of finishing that Skein cardigan,Whisper? cant remember and I would like to do that dolman top in the pale green and black sock weight out of the new Knitscene and you know Im sure Ive got this mag too but cant find it so Ill buy another someplace probably at this lovely shop,I check out the Friday updates everyweek and drool at the projects,Id love to do the African flowers..

Something else

Went up on the Hill last night for the Photo Group Meeting,supposed to hav ebeen for the sunset but it was cold and windy and a bit too much cloud cover though I got a souple of sunny ones,the above was across the lake (Lefroy) ,the sun was on the right side of frame, I need to go back one night and try again..but this one was lovely to see even if it doesnt look that hot in pic

I will endevour to get some knitting content on here very soon,just not enouigh time,another assignment looming and two jobs dont help

Little things