Sunday, September 20, 2009

It's a herd of Secret Squirrels!

What does one blog about, when everything one could blog about, is a secret? It's a toughie.

I mean there is a brand new knitting project in the works - but it is to be a gift. If the recipient saw it, it would wreck the surprise. So I can't blog it. Yet.

There's also a beautiful new blend of fibres on the wheel, in stunning colours? But it is for a swap, and again, if the recipient saw it, it would wreck the surprise. So I can't blog about that, either. Yet.

Instead, I will blog about the knitting project that just came off the needles, and a whole swag of fibre club deliveries that arrived last week. Heads up if you are a member of the Southern Cross Fibre, IxchelBunny or Ewe Give Me The Knits fibre clubs, don't have yours yet and don't want a spoiler, you may not want to scroll down much further.

So a few weeks ago, I bought some fiftyfifty merino and silk yarn in a 4ply or fingering weight from the lovely Knitabulous. I wanted a short sleeved lightweight shrug, something to just throw on over a summer dress that covers up the upper arms, but isn't overly warm - and here it is. I knit the Dream In Colour Shrug pattern, which is written for a ten ply, but worked out well in finer yarn. I love the finished object and can see it getting a lot of wear.


Meanwhile (back at the ranch) the postie made regular visits here this week with parcels of goodness. Southern Cross Fibre fibre club arrived, bearing 80g of polwarth and tussah silk fibre in the gorgeous colourway of 'Sprout' which I really really wanted. (really. No, really)

Followed by some equally gorgeous and very interesting fibre blend as the first installment of Ewe Give Me The Knits fibre club. This is an 80 percent merino, and 20 percent Milk protein blend. Yup, thats fibre (which feels very soft and silky) made from milk. Can't wait to load this baby onto my wheel!

And last but not least is the 100g of Blue Faced Leicester and Angora blend from IxchelBunny. The interesting thing about this braid (aside from how very soft it is) is that all of these colours are acheived with natural dyes, from things like lichen and walnuts. Impressive, no?
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So anyways that is it for me today. I could post about rearranging the kids room today, cleaning everything up and out of there, but that is a horror I am currently trying to regress.
Instead, I will leave you with all the pretties above and hightail my butt off for a cuppa tea, and to try and round up a couple of wayward secret squirrels.
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Monday, September 7, 2009

Spring Has Sprung!

Around here, it's been kind of a tough week. Master Mayhem and Miss Chaos have been a little more full on than usual - there was the fridge incident (way to say buh bye to 3 litres of milk, 500g of cheese, nearly a half a kilo of butter, a jar of minced garlic and a whole tin of strawberry quik). The next morning it was followed by a pantry incident (1 kg sugar, a whole box of cheerios, and a packet of crackers) and the morning after the medicine cupboard. (Those omega 3 blackcurrant flavoured fish oil capsules? The cat asked to be oiled and massaged. truly. But at least he smells fruity eh?)
Before anyone goes there, all three of these places have locks. We forgot to lock the fridge for the first time in months, and the locks on pantry and medicine cupboard now represent zero challenge it seems.

You take pleasure wherever you can get it though, and this week spring really has sprung around here, and it is everywhere you look. Tiny snow white lambs frolicking in the paddocks, animals everywhere doing that thing that.. animals do in spring, humans feeling the similar urge (everytime i drive past a couple of high schoolers doing the disco-pash around the corner from our place I lean out the window and yell 'BUSTED!' and watch 'em jump six foot in the air. Hy-st-er-i-cal I tell you). Then, of course there's one of my favourite things about spring - the flowers. I love daffodils, and I love tulips - but most of all I love, love, love the cherry blossoms. We have one in our front yard and she is doing a marvelous rendition of snow white this year :)


Since my last post, there was a scheduled stocking of the store - there is still a few things left this time also, which is good because I finally managed to organise some advertisements on Ravelry. I still get a wee thrill every time I see one my own advertisements. I know. I'm pathetic. :p But I am happy this way.

There's been very little spinning or sewing to show this week, however there has been some knitting done :) A couple of weeks ago I bought some sock yarn from knitabulous in the 'Count Sockular' colourway. I paired it up with the 'Froot Loop' pattern from Knitty, and freshly finished are these babies - I'm calling em FrootBat socks.



I also had some more Knitabulous yarn delivered today in a lovely bright orange / red colourway, a 50/50 merino and silk blend which is destined to become a shrug for me. It's very bright, and I love it. I have a feeling my need to accessorise my usual black black and black with a little colour is turning into a full blown wardrobe makeover. Eeek. (stop laughing. You know who you are.)

I also cast on my sisters 40th birthday present last night. It's beautiful so far, which is great, but in my usual style, I have left myself less than a month to complete it. Nothing quite so spurring as working under pressure is there?
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