A finished item and a teapot

I finished the ISE5 scarf ,here artfully posed near the roses! Its turned better than I thought,so light and lacy,only 50g here and enough to wrap and tuck,the remainder ball looked too dark and I didnt want to risk too much colour change!!!

And the faithful teapot for my Tea Cosy Pal....

Now Ive finished the scarf I can start the Cosy....hmm a bit stuck for a pattern,could do the lovely flower one I did last Chrissy but I feel like change....

Hmm A Bit of Break

Its been a while...So tired and daylight saving is coming up,yuk,who can get out of bed at 3.30 am (oldtime) and go to work for 8 hours and remain sane?
A few people like it including my assistant and partner in crime who just puts puts the youngest to bed according to clock,easy for some .Last summer I had an average of 4 hours a night and had to have a catnap during the day if I could get it... I reckon it cost me at least $500 last year in medical bills as I was quite sick and saw a Doctor and the rest is History.. This year Ill only be starting at 5 or 530am when theres too much to do before Staff and Students arrive,blowing the grounds,weed /pest spraying! If I start at 6am Ill be at work till 2.30pm!!! Well see how it goes!!!
On the knitting front Im nearly finished the ISE5 and am very happy with it.In the next little while I have to do a Tea cosy for a Ravely Swap and 4 face washers and also hope to spin and knit another of Mandies lovely tops that I ordered this week. That reminds me ,must go pay her too,so it arrives in time!!!! Making it easy for other gifts though,saw the most delightful little succulents in the Nursey,hope they have more in for Xmas!

Got It Done!

I made it with two junior sewers hanging on every move and battling them to leave the Olfa blade alone...
I'm really happy with this top,its turned out a Queen topper size but will also look great over a single bed.This design is a slash 'n sew style in case anyone wants to know ,easy to do but fun because of the colour play,inexpensive 'cause I used a lot of plain homespun! I may put a special little something on the back,depending on time!
Id love to do another as a lounge cuddle rug in Flannels....


Its done,I just need to get the wadding and backing....and pick off the threads of course.....and in the post to Mum!

A warm Sunday!

I spent all yesterday on the Computor typing and organising my assistants application for a job,Im fast gaining a reputation for being able to do these darstardly things,note a reason why I use Sometimes Unwilling Guru,LOL.
Ive come to conclusion that I should keep my thoughts to myself and maybe then Ill have some time to do things that get put off to help others.
Not that I really mind,I love helping people and most of the time they are happy recipients.Im really going far out to help my Mate here with this job 'cause I hope not to have a new person start and find them not "nice"! Beside I prefer to work with a friend and definitely not a undesirable.... leaving that to imagination...
Anyhow today Im running around like a beheaded chook,cleaning as I go and hopefully Ill be able to cut and sew the finishing border on my Dear Mums Quilt top as it was her B'day on Friday and lousey timing ,Dad in Hospital having major Cancer Op and Mum is on the Property on her own and I didnt time things tro have aspecial Pressie posted last month,yes Im doing the real guilt thing!! Couldnt even do a Flower thingy as they would have been dead by the time she got them,Back of Bourke sort of thing!!!
So Im going all out to do this Quilt today,get the wadding this week when I have to go into Kal to get the Ride on lawnmower out of its hospital.Ill be able to pick it up quickly(the wadding I mean ) as I know the lady well enough in shop for her to have it ready to go!!!
Sort of playing with doing some crazy Quilting with some gold or gold toned thread to high light some sections.... Will have a think.....
Leave you with this....Some minor birds having a bath! Hear the wattle birds laughing in the background!

Home again!

We arrived home from Perth 1.30am Tuesday and I went to work at 6,does that tell you anything about how I may have felt by Lunch?, definitely something the cat dragged in ,by the back legs. Im only just starting to appear sane and normal in some kind of way!

We both came to the same conclusion that, that will be the last Perth Show we will attend, well at least with kids!

Hmm, where do we start first!!!

It wasnt the money,thought most things were reasonable well priced,it was the stifling crowds ( did hear an estimate of 200 000 passing through gates )and the size of the grounds, it ages to get to all the things we wanted to look at! Our boys were well behaved and didnt whinge TOO much!

If I peddle fast enough Ill get the blow dryer going!

After an hour lined up at the ATM on the second day I gave up doing anything much,couldnt find the arts and craft stand til it was too dark to take any piccies and I was really a bit nervous of doing so in case the owners objected(some people are a bit funny!)

Son No 1 doing his thing! A tail whip where he spins the bike frame and reseats before he lands!

DH telling boys about how it works,most hilarious is the fact a lot of the historical farm machinery we grew up with and even used at some time or at least our fathers did!

No I dont feel old.....

I did score a 100g of luscious chocolate Alpacca top hand carded with a bit of silk and 500g of white plain Alpacca from a lovely lady in the huge shed that housed the show Alpaccas and a few pink pigs(including Durocs too).

What I was mostly excited about with the fibre was that the white bags were processed by the Goldfields Mohair Farm near Bendigo,the choc one she did on her own carder!! This lady was the best! The other one who also had a stand showing some bits including yarn and articles made up was simply not interested when I attempted to converse about spinning and carding etc,I seriously doubt she knew much at all.The first lady was full of interesting information and generally it was a great to talk to her.Wished I had been able to buy some of her processed Alpaca, gordeous blue and a mossy green,they were of varying weights/lengths so I couldnt add quickly enough and seriously I had to keep some change for the kids to go one the rides(poor things had been living on promises all day!) I do have her card however and will make contact later to get some then!!!

I will be back.......

Katy My new Friend

ITs HERE!!!!

Mandie sent this over this week and Im thrilled to bits and cant wait to use it!! And that lovely thread in the bag tooo!! Thankyou ,youre a lovely person,made my day!!! I still owe you that sample of Icelandic baa baa and Ill also put in a bit of that lovely black fleece Im working on too!

I first thought to ply it(the yellow thread) with that lovely bobbin that I finished off but I will pursue socks I think,anyway I have plenty of fluff still and have am nearly finished another lot of Mandies roving so methinks perhap it will marry very well with it!!!!Hmm Ill wait and see,maybe theres a spot for me in the ringside this Sundie?

I present Katy such a precise lady.... with two worn out bobbins!

And look what I found hiding in my messy garden this morning!!!Been waiting twelve months for these to show and theres more colours to come!!!!

Roll on Weekend

What an exhausting week,we had to make sure all the gardens were pristine as far as the roos would let us,for the Art Exhibition and then set up and mark the field for the Annual Athletics as well.All was going well more than usual as we had some lovely people volunteered to mark up the track while we did the field!

The S#%t hit the fan when we found out that the V....... surveyers had flown out that morning, but the boss and his main man were going to do it after school the night before the event,panic stations as it actually takes quite a few hours to do this job.Come 3pm I went down with our trusty line marker with a lent battery from a local buiness and we are on the way,thankfully even with the blockages and breakdown all was completed by 7pm under lights and the sports went ahead like a dream,phew!!!!!

I am so stuffed,I had 2 late days and some how sleep is evading me too and havent been able to spin,though I started another pair of Opal Snake socks for a Xmas gift but havent been near my spinning Wheel/s,maybe thats whats wrong..withdrawal?

I did however recieve a box of goodies from lovely Mandie! Ill post a picture later but it had the Precision Lazy Kate and a few parts and dye of course. Ill put it together tommorrow in between packing Hew up for Country week in Perth. Mandie put an extra goodie in too so Im hoping to spin a bit more to try this out....wonder what she has in store for us this Sundie!!!!

Oh before I forget,the Art Exhibiton was also a success and this year I put in my Quilts that Id made over time and a lot of people made some lovely comments!!! I must take some photos hopefully tommorrow,before they re all taken down!!!

Ps Sharon!! that flower in a pot under the spun bobbin is indeed my own plant and Im very pleased its flowered so well as it was an expensive plant to buy!!!!

Ill leave you with another lovely flower piccie!

Argh 'tis a Lovely Day

Edited to add at bottom of post
A gorgous day,I finished a bobbin of Mandies Lotus Blossum,very happy I am.Ill be spinning a bit of white up and dying that to match so I can knit a pair of socks with this,it reminds me of Opal Petticoat!

I havent really got much knitting done this week but plugged along on the patonyle wool socks and finished them.

Im also at the heel of 2nd Baudelaire sock,love that pattern but a my Nightime project it only gets a little while as my eyes go crosseyed with tiredness!

On the work front I was awarded my position as Senior Gardener, hip hip horray!!!!! No doubt a couple may be miffed for reasons of their own,but Im very pleased as were quite few staff(must be the cakes I bring in on Smoko days) and they gave me this!!!I love getting flowers(or any gift as we all do) but this was totally unexpected which made it so nice! Im lucky to work with a lovely bunch of persons!!!

Ill finish with a nice veiw from my pride and glory at work,an Ornamental Cherry!!!!!The best its ever been!

Cravings.....

I was just surfing,just some innocent surfing to unwind from work before H gets home from his jaunt and demands attention(Husbands can be worse than babies....) and I came across THIS..I want to knit it ,real bad and you know!!! I would wear it to bits (next winter of course) ,honest!!! The Grandad Top.
But I cant justify the price tag for a book that I d only use for one pattern....humph.....

A much a frogging we will go!

Sharon this is for you!!!! Would love to see a few more of Mandies tops spun and finished from everyone who has been in that weekly Sunday night crush!

This poor scarf has been to that pond 3 times so far but I reckon its safe this time round!!!

Shangri La in the personalised Old Shale Pattern,I did this in 50sts if I remember rightly to get the right width and hopefully have enough to finish it a decent length, as its probably destined to be a Xmas gift. I love the way the colours are comimg through in variations just like waves, as the pattern suggested.....

Something interesting

While looking for customer support for the Victoria I came acros this on Youtube Ive had a go at spindling but Im afraid Ill stick with the wheels,I get more done.LOL maybe Im not as dextous as I should ? but this lady had me interested as Ive never seen a supported Spindle such as hers!

Hmm

I thought I better post as I probably wont have time this weekend with the others arriving home tonight sometime,I would like to get the house into some sort of order after another long week.

The greatest news ever is that I have been awarded the position as Senior Gardener,note I changed it from head gardener after the partner of a senior staffy made a somewhat suggestive comment to my husband who was furious and declared #&@ must be a fruit loop,LOL. Anyway I pleased as its permanent and providing I dont stuff up in th next 3 months everything will be hunky dory!!! Now I will have to coach my assistant in applying for that position now....

The not so great "news" is that ive picked up the virus that has floored quite a few in town but with me its all head aches(sinus,not hardly a sniffle thank heavens) and fatigue,didnt take time off but did go home an hour early for a couple of days...

Ive finished spinning one lot of Mandies Tops that I bought, Shangri-la which I ve started to knit into a wide scarf using the Old Shale Pattern, Im gambling on having enough yarn to get a decent length but as Im using singles and fairly fine I may get away with it. Hope I dont have to Frog it mainly because I dont trust singles to be very strong though Ive already undone a bit of it with little damage!!

Also in the bad news bit spinning wise, the Victoria wheel lost a bit off the base of the conrod so its now bandaged up with a bit of electrical tape to support it, I have my suspicions on how it happened and believe its a design fault. I emailed Louet North America but havent had a reponse yet. It needs a new conrod which I wanted to have as a spare anyway because of the way its connected to the wheel. Im also going to contact the lovely lady I bought it from to see if she may have a quicker response from the company,surely theres some support since it cost a mint to start with.I may have to start looking at Lendrum as a portable wheel(hope Hubby doesnt read this!)

The line points to the bit that broke off,the top half of the conrod the the flexible bit is screwd into.I hope I dont get into trouble for showing this picture of the Vicky ......

And now for some extra info on that lovely shrub that I posted about recently!

Chorizema cordata, Australian Flame pea, Im going to put a few more of these into the gardens and one day when mine is more mature Ill add some there too.... the link is of Images on Google as I found it hard to find any information on how to grow these plants that was condensed enough for linking but at least these show the variation of these gorgeous plants. I usually give them a trim back about a third after flowering to maintain a shape.The best part about these plants ,The roos havent eaten them,yet.....

Nice and Quiet

Its amazing how quiet it can be when a couple of people are out of the house! With B and P up at Kalbarri I'm only cooking for five! And theres room to move as well,less washing,I can come home from work to little mess! I miss them of course ,the quietness is a little unnerving! Wonder how Ill cope when they fly the coop! Talked to them yesderday and all P could talk about was a big blown up dead cow on th edge of the river where they boated. I asked him if he'd seen any crocs yet....silence followed by"I dont think so" and heard B say "they saw us though!".....LOL

I came home an hour and a bit early today,the virus is fast catching up and I'm a little tight feeling in the chest... hot and cold too and sluggish but at least I stayed and got a few bits done at school.Didn't infect anyone as Im out in the grounds (offsider reckons shes coming down with it too...)

The big Resume went over the counter yesterday but I'm a bit iffy about the main essential one though people who Ive asked opinions of think its great,(thanks Mandie!! Boosted confidence !) The Head Cleaner reckons Ill get the job,ha ha ha,she said shell eat her words if I didnt,LOL. I'm hoping for a phone call in the next few days,at the worst Ill be offered another 6 months to polish up the paper work,Don't want to write another one for a while.....

On the fun side!!!! A bag of Silky Green Lambswool Sock yarn arrived!!! I'm thinking Embossed Leaves socks!

Nearly finished second pair of the lovely Baudelaire sockies,love that pattern but its taken a while to get the first one done as I was waylaid with other urgent projects. This pattern is addictive and being my night time project as its so easy to memorise!!If I remember correctly this wool is a Regia Stripes? feels soft to touch on the ball and feet but I thought it was a bit harsh to knit ,though Id knit with this wool again if the colour was right,LOL, LOOOVE the colours! Keeps me motivated to get to the next change!!

Checked out Mandies dyed efforts at last,my computer refused to up load piccies but they were all gone anyway..just as well, I want to get some chocy coloured yarn on Friday, (DAY OFF,YIPPEE), at the LWS , 'need' to make a vest..was trying to save my wool allowance to get some Silkgarden from a great ebay "wish " store to make a knitty pattern that I could have used a lot during Hockey season! I have to stop ogling Mandies gorgeous stuff and stay off other sites.

On the wish list also, are the jumpers for my parents .Dads easy with classic V jumper in Spinifix? but Mum,I cant pick a colour in the yarn I want( she has a bad habit of dying her hair in horrendous reds,she wont read this so I can be honest,LOL) or the pattern that will call out to me and wont get boring..... wool from Bendy of course

OK! off to hang the washing again,still feel yuck but teas easy tonight...

Fathers Day

Fathers Day and I forgot to send over a gift and card for my Dad and DH is off to Kalbarri with Son no 3 for a school camp,Hubby opened his mouth a couple of months a go and the teacher nabbed him,LOL

Should have taken a photo of them getting on bus but 5.15 in the morning when it was very cose to frost? I was busy snuggling into my possum jumper and wrapped up with angora fluffiness around the neck to think of that!!!

Anyway After I finish my resume today I going to cook some lovely bickies like those cooked yesterday for the School Camp, spin a bit(my reward for getting that paper stuff done) and hopefully have a spiining Pal come over,this arvo for chat! This week with two of the bigger peoples out of the house Ill make some headway into finishing some projects including Gift socks, the beanie in The West Coast Eagles colours for a staffy who cut everthing off for Bluey Day on Friday night, he was very shy about it but the beanie made out of gorgeous blue heirloom wool and a little yellow Country for the stripe will make his day tommorrow And finish another bobbin of that black fleece!!!

See how I go....

English leicester,and bits

Heres an up to date of that EL,that Ive plied with blue embroidery thread,and some merino that I think came from the Parks Mills in central NSW,love to get some more of this!!!

Very happy with this ,my first forway into "exotic" spinning,Im normally very plain and classic minded!

This is destined for a crocheted rug though Ill have to do a bit more combing and spinning to have enough to do the project,it was fun enough not to stay abandoned in the cupboard,LOL

I have enough dyed in the same colour way so will probably continue this on and only add another colour in the mix if I run out...though now thanks to Mandie I have more gorgeous ones to try out!!!!!

Busy Busy Busy

Ok! its been along week of long days and long nights,Hubbys been and still is sick with a nasty virus,but not flu thanks heavens otherwise I would have moved out for a while,LOL

Anyway hes been busy setting up the cement works for this weekend as he teed up friends to come around to help! Might I add at this time that a lot of the junk that invariably made into that area needing to be cleaned out were not fibre goodies though a few dye pots were lucky to run for their lives!!!!

I recieved a couple of very important parcels this week! Mandie from Heaven sent over the lastest batch of dyed goodies from her workshop and also the lastest WildFibre Mags in stock,Ive just managed to get through them (those Muskox are gorgeous little fellas) and have fluffed Lotus Blossom ready for the wheel,though I ve run out of space there as Ive also started the glorious fleece that AJ sent! Looking a Finn fleece now......Hopefully Vicky will be cleared tommorrow as Im hoping two friends are coming up to play!!!

My friend Pam has a Ashford Traditional that broke its conrod joint but i managed to find a temporary "part" to get her wheel going and have since ordered more bits including(smack on hand) a precision Lazy kate which I hope will improve my plying skills!I am going to look out for a good second hand Traditional shortly as mine is coming apart and if I have to strip it to repair and tighten Id like to have another to continue but Ill have a serious look at this one first to see how much work is neede first!

I gave Pam her surprise of the Heartspoken Roving from Mandie and she was delighted!

Having fun spinning that black fleece but havent had the right time of day to sit in the sun with it as its much easier to comb when warm and soft!Speaking of which i will go and see if I can comb a bit more before H calls for more "muscle"!!!

Blasted Thing

I came back to edit the last post and it ate the edits and then split up the photos so much you have to roll down heaps to find the rest!!!!, does anyone else have this problem? or is it just me,maybe I should follow the trend and head over to Typepad,grrrrr

Anyway besides finishing the bobbins on the wheels,I aim to do a photo shoot of town and maybe a few tommorrow of Kal as a new PE from Scotland contacted me in regards to what Kambalda's like so Im doing a Kambalda Info post just for A and his family so they have an idea of what its like here, hope I dont scare them,LOL....which reminds me havent done the Dunlop one yet......

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looky what arrived in the mail,the Postie lady actually dragged it out from the room out the back!!!
Lovely Aunty J sent over the gorgeous black fleece I drooled over while visiting!! I cant thank her enough for giving me the opportunity to play with a fleece the type which I took for granted when I learnt to spin years ago as a teenager (pure merino in the 21 micron range but clean and soft like this back fleece) Please be patient with the photos!!!!
Its merino X corredale! its like butter,the staples just need a frick on the tips Ill be able to spin to my hearts content!!
Its black and just undescribable, soft, clean as it was coated and the right length!

Ill be certainly be asking her to hold a fleece next year too!!! Wnder what Aj is going to do with that BFL,should talk her and Cousin K into starting a blog!!!!













3.8 kgs,itll keep me occupied for ages,already Ive got patterns forming in my mind! I should even be able to dye it a bit! I still havent been able to find a "just right" pattern for the lovely grey wool AJ insisted I bring home but Im so looking forward to knitting it because of the soft yummyness!
I ve already buried my nose in this fleece,Tilly was so very rapt with the smelly baa baa,she tried to eat it!!! My friend and work partner Kym thought it stunk!!!!!
At the bottom is a close up of staple combed and ready to spin! Its actually darker than camera showed!




















































Also a sneak preveiw of new tiles(ungrouted)

























Ok Im off, starving I am!!!











hhhmmmm what to have......





















Edited: I hope to free awheel up this weekend to start on this one,how exciting,at least it keeps my mind on that dratted job application,though instead of writing eloquent Saos,Ill be dreaming sheep,LOL....

Very Pretty English Leicester

I finally got to lay out these lovely locks to finish drying when I could

1 keep an eye on the JR in case she decides to play with Mums wool(she been known to make off with a bit)

2 its such a gorgeous warm winter day and the sun will dry them to the fluffy state I need to tease them out!!!

This blue I thought would be more purple but its verrry nice anyway!!

And to cap off my day Hubby is taking the two boys into hockey late this arvo so Im staying here with the other juniors(No5 is big and ugly enough to look after himself but Mums presence wont harm him)

I dont like missing the game but the younger ones hate it and Hubby has missed a couple himself just to stay home so it was fair this time...besides Dr Whos on!And I feel like spinning a bit!

Well its been a while but I just cant get over this fatigue bit...

Ive done abit of dying with the English Leicester but not all of it,I have a delicious box of colours waiting at Mandies so wanted to keep a bit to play with,LOL

In the meantime Im nearly finished the Studio Mohair so I can start this!!!! Hmmm,Buffalo fluff from Mandies wonderful EGMTKS....

Not sure yet what to make,despite all the patterns perused And I still have to determine exactly the meterage....etc.....but it looks like Choccy that much I know....

The Geraldton wax is now starting to show colour so thought I would put up a piccy just for the sake of it(and one of Son No 1 heading off to try out his new bars, hes in training to take part in the Perth Royal Show BMX Demo with his trick pals,which reminds me, book accomodation,wonder if they'll have a pavillion for all the things like knitting goodies....)

ON that resume , Ive had a look, and I need only to update details and add a couple of SAOs which I ve sort worked out but need to make more professional sounding of course!