Blah Blah Blah

Thanks for introducing me to Spell with Flickr Sherpa!

Boo!

I've not been around much... I'm acting up at work (acting at a higher level - not acting the fool) and my grandparents have both been sick which has meant weekly trips to Nowra. Sick toddler and kicking foetus mean not much sleep... But enough of the excuses - I've a bit of catching up to do!

Firstly, the lovely Georgie nominated me as a Rockin' Girl Blogger - shanks George! I think just about everyone I visit has one now, but if you don't and you're reading this then - by association - you must be a Rockin' Girl Blogger and so you must avail yourself of this button.


In other news, there is little news. I knitted a bag from some obnoxious orange acrylic from the MIL. I'm still going on a branching out scarf. I'm doing the back of a jumper for Lil for next year in concert with Nana who has done the sleeves. And I'm itching to do something else, but mainly because I want to cast on. I don't want another UFO though, so I'm resisting. In the meantime I've been doing some embroidery. When we were in Nowra Lily saw a snail and spent AGES watching it. Being without craft (but having Nana's sewing room at my disposal) I set upon doing a little embroidery of a snail. Then I did a caterpillar, then a dragonfly. A little garden trio. I'll probably frame them I think. Click for a (much) larger version.


And our friends Geoff and BJ had a beautiful little girl during the week so I did another little one for them - so cute! The image is from a paper napkin from BJ's baby shower.


Other than that there's not much to report. I went to SnB on Monday after the longest absence - soooo good to be back but it seems the night ended rather unfortunately - see Taph's account.

Ta Ra...

Canberra Craft a-noon

A craft jam. In Canberra. Who'd have thunk it????

Sunday 16th September 3-5pm || Friends of Blue Gum Lounge, Hackett Shops || RSVP Fri 7th sept. heather.cocquio[@]gmail.com

Spread the word!!

Dayflower? Done!

Here's my Dayflower. I'm proud of it. I like the colour. My sister loved it (although seemed a little confused about how to wear it).

But I still don't like it much! Colour is probably closer to the second pic, but both are shocking as I took them at 10.30 last night.

I've got a couple of projects on the go: a jumper for Lil, another scarf (branching out), a hat, but nothing is really pushing my buttons.

Work is as busy as buggery, feel totally disorganised and frustrated at home and generally 'blerg'. But we've got a 20 week scan tomorrow so that should be exciting. All the best for the coming week folks!

Baby bag

My lovely friend Big Lilly and her gorgeous little one Savannah came down for a visit a couple of months ago, on her way to join her husband for a jaunt across the Nullabor (as one does). She was saying that she needed something for the wee one to wear of a night in such cold climates as ours (it was 10 degrees at night at this stage!). Anyhoo, I'd been reading this site (etsy, craftster?) where this very clever woman had been felting old jumpers/sweaters and then making children's clothes from them. I then thought that perhaps Big Lilly could get a big ole jumper and fashion it into a sleeping bag arrangement for Savannah. I'm great with ideas like that - just no good at the execution! Not so Big Lilly, who last week sent me the following email....

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dear Mrs Twitchy
I don't know which blog you stole the 'turn-the-old-jumper-into-a-jaunty-felted-
sleeping-bag-for-the-child-visiting-cold-climes' idea from, but it's bloody brilliant.

As you can see from the attached photographic documentation I managed to felt it up a treat in one hot wash and one spin around the dryer. Following general dimensions from one of the child's jumpers I cut raglan sleeves from the sleeves (to use those fab cuffs), cut the rollneck into the bodice with a generous V-neck for easy access. The rest of the jumper became the 'bag' with the final touch of 5 shell buttons to the bottom to close it all up. I did toss around the idea of a zip with closed in bottom but the buttons work to turn the bag into a all together far too long dressing gown style of thing. Or probably more realistic an easy early morning nappy change access point.

The seams are a bit thick but where ever possible I have managed to double stitch them flat. You may have a better idea. Perhaps an overlocker would have done a better job. Immaterial really.

The small person told me 'nooew dop. toooooo big'. but mell nice.' I think that's about as positive feed back as you're likely to get from a 21 month old. Pertinent I guess is the fact that it 'mells nice.

You should whack it up on your website for all and sundry to copy!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Consider it done! I take absolutely no credit for this at all - its all you Lilly!

Parenting merit badges

Two thumbs up for this brilliant idea - merit badges for parents!


This is the perfect one for Big Lilly who's been in Melbourne this week for the Hot Milk conference...

Knitting along

Not one to be left out of the crowd, I've decided to join Georgie, Kuka and Bells in doing the Dayflower Lace Scarf.

I considered myself pretty brave because I've an un-natural fear of charts. Now I don't know if its the pattern or the chart, but this is sooooo much easier than trying to read the k1 p1 yo version. Either way, a whole new world has opened up to me. Never more shall I huddle shaking in the corner when charts are mentioned. Having said that, I'm not that impressed with the resulting pattern. Anyhoo, I'm making it for my sister and she likes it.

The other thing is that I've tried felting again. Some of you may remember a failed attempt I made last year.

Well this time all went well. I loved this wool - its was 'Twilly' or some such. From England. I just loved the autumny tones. I've still got to line it, but at least its finished. Again, I'm not sure I like the finished product much. Meh... I've got some similar wool too to make some pilchers for Savannah in Brisvegas which is in greens pinks and yellows.

Didn't make it to SnB on Thursday, but hoping to make an appearance at the new meeting on Monday 16th...

Laugh? I nearly died!

On Sunday, my fabulous sister who shares my wicked sense of humour, gave me a copy of 'The Dictionary of Kitschy Stitches" by Stitchy McYarnpants. I love a good laugh. But this book was so funny that I couldn't stop laughing to breath. Seriously. I could only read a couple of pages at a time for fear that I would die. My favourite page is below (You may need to click to view text).


There's another one with a rug knitted to appear like a life-size clown - the caption implying that the boy beneath the rug was no longer frightened of clowns having killed and skinned his own... this one is pertinent given my darling husband has a phobia of clowns.

You must buy it. Buy it now.

Mooooooo!

I can't wait to get some of these....
http://www.moo.com/products/stickers.php

I find it interesting that my blog is Rated G. Especially as during the week my lovely 3 year old learnt to use the F word - in context. We were at home, she 'not feelin da best', me trying to get excited about doing the Dora the Explorer puzzle for the 50th time, when the phone rang. I sighed (I hate the phone). Lily said ' Oh F**k Off'. I don't think I can blame that one on childcare...

Anyhoo, just to catch you up on a couple of little things I did during my blogging haitus...

This for my friend battling brain cancer. Warning: Strong Language! Ironically, the strong language won't affect my G rating because its a picture!!



And this for my friends D and P's daughter Ruby (a gorgeous name for a gorgeous child)



This yarn is one of Spidey's. I notice she's doing some socks in the same yarn - is it bad that I love a sock? Do you think if I steal it she will notice?

And finally, a little hat that I whipped up for Lil. I did it on double pointeds - a first for me. Taph, you'd be proud. I made it with little holes for her piggy tails. I got sick her looking like she had growths coming out of her head in all her hats because of the unsightly bumps cause by the pigtails. Problem solved. Although, I seemed unable to estimate the length of her head, and its a bit short. Never mind.



Anyhoo, best be off. I might see some of you tonight at Knit1Blog1 opening - but I will have child in tow so I don't know how long I'll stay.

This will explain everything...

I'm 14 weeks pregnant, but its third time lucky with this little monkey... two little stumbles in the road which means I've actually been pregnant for 8 of the last 11 months... no wonder I'm tired! Anyhoo. I've not been doing much beyond working and sleeping recently, but hopefully things will return to normal shortly. I'm already doing better - its 9.30 and I'm still awake!!

Spun out...

For a variety of reasons it been a tough week. Sickness has plagued Nath, then me, then Lil, so I spent most of the week at home - not good at this time of the financial year. Lil is going to have to have another round of grommits inserted in her ear to stop the infections - not good for my nerves or bank balance! But then I went to see a friend and her baby who were both quite sick following the birth and I thought how lucky we were. I also saw another little (9 pound) bubba who was fine and lovely. Then when we were at the ENT doctor I ran into a couple I used to work with and their second child has been born with only two valves in the heart. So things could be worse, I thought to myself. Then the horrifying news that a friend of mine was found to have a 7cm tumor in her brain. She's been through surgery and things are apparently looking good, but it has totally rocked me. She's in her early 30s, husband and two beautiful boys, had been feeling pretty depressed recently, started getting headaches then BAM. It has brought out so many feelings; love, despair, frustration... I can't verbalise it... needless to say that I'd love it if you could all send out a prayer or light a candle or positive energy or something for her.

So in the spirit of not taking anything for granted and taking pleasure in each moment, I give you my first attempts at spinning. I'm pretty chuffed, especially with the chocolate plyed ones. Lil tells me "Sherbert" is her favourite, which is good 'cause I wouldn't give you tuppence for it.

Sherbert


Chocolate strawberries


Chocolate Beesting


Then I made some knitting needle rolls.


No reason for them.




I gave one to my MIL (not photographed) and one of these will go to my Mum, but the other is up for grabs. Seems fitting seeing as we are coming up to Twitchy Fingers' first birthday. So leave me a message between now and 9 May and I'll have my lovely assistant choose your name out of a hat. If you don't want the knitting roll, I can do something else. Just stop lurking and say hello.

And finally, my darling husband just placed in my hand the first ever feijoa from our little tree. I got the tree a couple of years ago and it was in a pot until we moved into this house. Now its got its little roots into the clay soil and is bearing fruit (singular!). Just the smell makes me deliriously happy. I can't wait to see what it will do next year!

A picture packed post

ANZAC Day


Last Wednesday was ANZAC Day and every year we go to Sydney to watch my Pa march. Pa was Navy and part of Z Special Unit, and wasn't allowed to talk about his involvement in the war until 50 years after the end of WWII. Its only in the last couple of years that they've been able to make an association and march under their banner. Its become a part of my year, like Easter and Christmas, that I couldn't miss. Things have changed over the years; it used to be just Pa, Nana and I, and the three of us would kick-on with the young sailors way after the other old diggers had headed home. This year it was me and my husband and daughter, my Mum and her husband, my sister, my uncle and my Nan and Pa. There was no kicking on but it was a good day none the less. My uncle held the banner, my husband marched with my Pa, the rest of us stood on the corner of George and Bathurst to wave them on - with Lil waving her flag and shouting "Good on you diggers!". But it's sad too. Their association only has seven members left and one of them passed out even before they started marching. And I love all these old guys. And once they're gone I'll still trek up to Sydney (a city I dislike) for the March and for their memory.

On to other crafty things now. I pray every night that my passion for a wide variety of crafts will be taken from me and I will wake up with a new fidelity to just one craft. But alas it is not to be so....

my new baby

Isn't she beautiful! I'm still learning, but I'm having fun.



The lovely lady who sold her too me gave me so beautiful roving too so I've had some lovely stuff to practice on...

The thickness is, shall we say, variable? But I'm assured that I'll improve.

Then my Mum bought me a little wet felting kit - I'm waiting for the right idea to strike me before I attempt it, but I'm thinking I might make a couple of little bowls or something???

And I've unravelled my first ever cardigan which never looked any good on me anyway, in order to refashion it into Knitty's Bobbolicious

Unfortunately I used two strands in this jumper and I only need only for the Knitty thing, so I'm having to separate into two balls. Its a painful task.

And finally, two lovely friends have had bubbies this week so I've had a go at stenciling some little singlets for them. I love stenciling with freezer paper, but really don't have the time to spend carving out intricate designs. I was trying to think of personalised - and quick - presents for them. And then I remembered my little paper craft punches which are now part of my daughter's craft box.

I just punched out a couple of each animal onto strips of freezer paper and it was sooooo quick! It would be better if you had larger ones because the definition isn't great on some of the small bits, but I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out.

Anyway, that is more than enough from me. I should be restoring order to my life after a weekend of tantrums (hers and mine) and sickness (his - hers and mine to a lesser extent) and general destruction of the home unit (all of us).

Oh stop, I'm blushing!

I finally met The Shopping Sherpa today when she popped by work to hand deliver the wonderful Canberra book. It was so lovely to meet her, kind of like meeting a penpal. She and Taph have evidently both been saying lovely things about me which I'm tempted to make some kind of self-deprecating remark about (but am secretly chuffed!).

As she said it was a bit like a blind date... I mentioned that George and I had the same discussion the first time we met outside of SnB; with me saying that it seems so, well, freaky to ask another woman out for a coffee or admit that you would like to get to know them better. To paraphrase TSS, 'when you're little you say "Hi, want to be my friend?" and lo and behold you've got a new mate'. But as we get older we become a little more cynical and start questioning motives and generally trying to deny what is probably a genuine attraction - in a totally non Single White Female kind of way!

Anyhoo, we chatted about stuff; Australia's cultural cringe about Canberra, moo cards (I love mine! She loves hers!), ladies shopping fabric (here's the one I was thinking about TSS), blog directions and pressures and such. We chatted for a good half hour and then she was off - because she had 'meeting' - the classic blind date trick just incase things didn't work out ;-) But I'm sure we'll cross paths again soon!

Its taken me way too long to write this post, so I think I'll just remove my heart from my sleeve and mosey on to bed. But I'll leave you with these Dilbert cartoons

Back soon

Hi folks
I've been sick and away and busy with work but once I get myself sorted it will be back to regular programming. I had this awful feeling that I was going to miss another SnB tonight, but it seems it's on next week, thank goodness. So I'll drop another missive once I've got myself sorted out.
Lovies
TF

Finished items and a rush of blogging!

Little cardy I started knitting many moons ago, sewed up a couple of moons ago, and finally got the buttons on one moon ago. The little monkey looks really cute in it. People at childcare must be able to identify my child immediately because for the last two years her only jumpers have been in that yarn...

A little Lion brand Kimono sweater for the lovely G in Sydney. Her Mummy liked the wool, having seen it so frequently on my child, so this little one is for her. The pattern was uber simple (lacking in the finishing department), and I think I'm confident enough now to add some 'fluff' - like an edge and a neckband. But goodness help me if I have to knit in that pink stuff again. I think three years with a yarn is more than enough. I'll bundle it up and weigh it and offer it up to the first one who wants it.



And the beehive hat from Stitch and Bitch Nation. I look shocking in it, although my DH doesn't seem to think so. And Lily looks absolutely gorgeous in it. Anyhoo, best go. I'm killing time waiting for Lil to wake up after she decided to adopt '2am-5am is party time' as her mantra. I knew the sleeping all night was too good to be true!

Oh, and a new blogger to check out - the lovely George! http://georgieskitchentable.blogspot.com/

I'm spinning around

Well, not yet I'm not. But as of tomorrow I will be the proud owner of a spinning wheel! I've often been tempted, but thought that my husband would baulk at the idea of yet another fibre related craft. But today there was a notice on our work notice board, which mentioned (amongst many other things) two spinning wheels for sale and DH not only drew my attention to it, but even mentioned the spinning wheels specifically! I took it as permission to engage the enemy and purchased myself a little upright thingy. I'm so very excited. Add to this the fact that my lovely mother bought me a little wet felting kit over the weekend, and Lily slept through the night for the first time in ages, and I got to knit the whole way to work while DH drove and I tell you that I'm about as happy as I can get.

I am not gone, I'm just away...

sad - a friend's father passed away. I cried at the funeral, even though I didn't know him really, mainly because I could feel my friend's pain. I wanted to pay my respects to man who made G into the wonderful man he is.

bittersweet - catching up with G, even under such sad circumstances. He normally lives so far away. And also catching up with beautiful people from Sydney who came down for the funeral.

happy - Big Lilly and Savannah coming to visit. Savannah saying 'Meow'. Our girls playing together at Questacon - Mini Q. Sidesplitting laughter shared with Big Lilly and Nicole. Ah, if only I could bottle it.


busy - traveling hither and yon to see relatives.

chocolatey - around 3kg of chocolate received at last count...

fatal - my accidental hitting of a bunny on the way to the airport this morning. The universe punctuating the end of Easter perhaps? RIP Flopsy.