About to paint the house...

Like Fresh Tea, we've got some renovations going on round here. Sat and Sun I get up way too early in anticipation. Including today, but the weatherboards are too damp from all the dew so I'm having to tai-ho and have a cup of tea! A bit of blog catching up since last time I only managed to get to Cathrynne's marathon baking efforts.

This woman I am jealous of. Ruth Sumner of Heirloom Design makes the greatest cushions with fruit stall signs - so reminds me of growing up. But what I love most is her job title - fabric designer. Love it. In my dream world where I don't get up at 6.30am on Sundays to don old trackies and paintbrushes - i would be a fabric designer. It seems a good word to include all things made from fabric - as I can't quite commit to clothes in my dreamworld - the idea of designing cushions or other homewares is just as exciting.

I have been doing some homewares - the Utiki 8 ply yarn "Donkey" is continuing. Now nearing the end of it's second year, I think it could be a 3-year-er. Maybe I should take it to Barrier for Xmas hols - but I think it still wouldn't get finished.

The latest World Sweet World came in the post last this week. Full of the usual lovely stuff. I particularly loved Heleen Webb's christmas card idea. Not that I have a giant hole punch though. I just sew old buttons on mine!

Other notable blog reading this morning:

• tentenknits - I really love her knitting and photography of her knitting. But her latest project remind me of a conversation last week with TTP - how can you wear these shrugs - don't they like stop your arms from moving up and down? I love the yarn colours she picks - so choice for the brunettes!
• Wardrobe refashion - I have a few of these to do after TTP came and stayed, helping clean out my wardrobe. You know sometimes I think I should not be allowed to go shopping alone - how many "what was I thinking" came out when you show someone else your wardrobe.
• JoytheBaker - stop it. stop it. stop it. weetbix tastes great with a cup of tea and I DONT want any of your biscuits. None. Would cameo cremes be a good substitute?

Right, the weatherboards must be dry somewhere on the house - so I'm out of here. Enjoy your Sunday folks!

Scones!

After finally posting on the blog, and then trying to catch up on everyone else's blogs - I'm stopped short by Catherynne's cooking post. What a legend she is - man what I would do for those goodies with a cup of tea right now. But I will just have to up the anti with my own baking shots - cheese scones from the Edmonds cookbook. Really nice with extra cayenne and paprika in them .... mmmmm!

Leading up to xmas ...

... I haven't been doing a lot of crafting. Or blogging for that matter. But really the 2 go hand in hand I suppose. So here is a little round up of the little crafting that's been going on.

My dropped stitch vest from the first SnB book has been put to the side while I re-knit a couple of inches. Much to the amusement of the monthly winos I completely misjudged my gauge, dropped the stitches in the final row for the pattern and nearly ended up with a wrap-a-round skirt. So I am going to have to do a bit of re-calcs of the pattern to finish this beauty.

I am quite pleased to have finished my xmas craft-swap decoration though - going to get them in the post tomorrow. I've already received 2 decorations - I love how crafty people can be, coming up with these cool ideas and then sharing them with a few others. Just cool. And it comes in the post!

I also bought the first issue of a new crafting NZ magazine "Extra Curricular" from Toggle - great little mag with interviews of crafters and artists. Cute little mag!

And another baby knit for a newborn - little boy called Alec. Yip, my old faithful Debbie Bliss raglan sleeve. Can you believe another 3 babies turned up as well? I'm thinking maybe some hats without a jumper!!

I'm really liking a little felt at the moment - a bit of stitching, a couple of buttons and a pair of nail scissors - easy craft!

one worried octopus

Another Debbie Bliss raglan sleeve jumper - this time in some random acrylic/wool mix from the odd-ball stash. I was thinking of this pressie for a little new bubba called Alec and put an teal octopus on the front. But then ..... horror of horrors...

.. when I suddenly realised I had sewn the sleeves together instead of the body side seams!!! Darn damn darn and I had done such a solid job of the stitch up there is no way those side seams were going to come apart. maybe I should have done mattress stitch afterall!

Do you think it would still fit a newborn? Maybe I could stitch the GI-gantic flared sleeves into position.... oh dear concentration levels at all time low.

New batch this week

I'm thinking about cooking up a new batch of muesli this week. The last batch was coconut & apricot but it was a bit dry and I've started reading all this talk of sulfites and dried apricots so am looking for another flavor. I'm thinking of cranberry and walnut and maybe a little less bran than last time. Any combo ideas out there for my fruit and nut?

And action!

This was one night well spent - I borrowed Helen's "reeeling machine" aka swift and powered through my hank stash.

While it probably took me 1/3 of the time to set it up and then pack it back into the box (I was a bit technically challenged!) but I can so understand why people spend the money they do on them - combine it with a wool winder and it makes short work of a hank. No sticking, knotting, stuck around a chair messes.

And hanks became skeins. Which at some point will become a knitting project - I'm thinking of some little twin girls who could do with a pink cardi each, and that pile of Donkey Utiku 8ply is for my mitre square blanket which is on umm, oh, it's 2nd year!!!!

Thanks Helen!

yes, occasionally I knit

While the blog seems lacking the knitting subjects it's aimed at - I have been knitting behind the scenes. Loads of babies born in September so I've been using my favourite baby pattern combo: Debbie Bliss Raglan jumper and StitchnBitch beanie. This set is for my new niece Alice, in Manukau Yarns 8ply "Charisma". I added some felt hearts for the lil' pretty thing!

And this little beanie was for the boss's son - it's in Rare Earth alpaca 12 ply yarn in Nightshade, an odd ball from the stash. I was inspired by the soon to be released Where the Wild Things Are. It ended up being a little short but still looked cute.

Go Ted you wild thing!