Quill

In the summertime I was knitting frantically for a new family member due to arrive in early May. The shawl is named Quill and is a design by Jared Flood...a real joy to knit.

A shawl for our latest granddaughter born on the 29th April...a little early and so full of cuteness !
Because she lives in New York, I have only met her on Skype and daily updates on her progress, but I am heading that way in a few months...can't wait !!

Flowerpot Quilt

It feels very good to have finished this quilt at long last. Cosy and colourful to sleep under for the coming winter months.

For Eve

My granddaughter Eve Rose is having a birthday very soon, and I have made her something special.

I really enjoyed making this nine-patch quilt and using all my scraps, it was fun to do.

A Possum Pleaser

A couple of weeks into January( when the days couldn't possibly be any hotter...wonderful, I might add) I discovered a beautiful scarf pattern, and had one of those moments when I thought "I am sure I could knit this in just a couple of weeks in plenty of time for a birthday coming soon"...but I was wrong.
However I am carrying on regardless...

The pattern is gorgeous and very clever and using the possum wool makes it incredibly soft and warm.

I found the pattern here at Purl Bee. It's definitely not the sort of thing you should start knitting in the middle of summer, but....

I couldn't resist.

I have another 65 inches or so to complete and I am determined for this not to become an UFO.

Watch this space !!

Filey

Finished in time for a New Year's Eve birthday. The pattern is called Filey and is from Rowan magazine no.45. Made with Rowan Summer Tweed and was not an enjoyable knit....hence why I took so long over it.

However I do like the textured detail on the back and I hope He (the fussy one) will like it too, and will wear it more than once or twice !
I might have to be patient for the cooler weather though to get that result.

Swallowtail Shawl

I believe I first cast on for this shawl in 2006, which is when I received the pattern in the Interweave Knits magazine. I used a cashmere handspun yarn that I purchased in the UK...Devon Fine Fibres.

After having knit through a third of it, I then packed it away in the window seat where I keep all my projects and stash of wool, and forgot about it for a few years !

The other day when I was looking for my husband's unfinished vest ( I had thought I might complete it for his birthday on New Years Eve), I came across the shawl and the rest of the cashmere and all it took was a couple of evenings and a good audio book (So Much For That by Lionel Shriver )

I am sorry I have been absent for so much of this year. Violin playing and music exams have taken over the hours in my days, but I still hope to pop back from time to time.
Seasons Greetings to you all !

Mitered Crosses Blanket

Here I am again...you thought I had disappeared into oblivion, didn't you ?

I am sorry about the infrequent posts, but I haven't been doing a lot of crafting type things lately, except for today when I finished this blanket.
The pattern is from Kay Gardiner www.masondixonknitting.com. and I bought  it on Ravelry last year, after the  quake/tsunami in Japan. Kay donated all the proceeds from the sale of the pattern to Mercy Corps relief work.

I used Noro Silk Garden and knitted on 4mm needles. It was a lot of fun, and I am keen to make another perhaps using some of my handspun this time, but first I am going to try and finish some of the other projects I have in various bags all over the house !

2nd week

A very Happy New Year to everyone.

Into the 2nd week of the new year tomorrow already, and the days go by, oh so fast !

Tomorrow I am off to Auckland for the annual ASQSS, and I am looking forward to a week of meeting up with old friends, lots of music, recitals, good food and some R and R.
There is going to be more rain, but that won't dampen my mood, not one little bit.

Whilst away I always carry some knitting, and this year I am taking some 2ply merino and a  cotton alpaca blend to make the Hakusa scarf by Kirsten Johnstone. I purchased the pattern on Ravelry and have cast on already and have knitted a few rows so I will be able to knit whilst catching up with friends, without having to stop and count stitches.

Have a great week and see you when I get back.

Waterlogged

This is the view from my window today.
We have had so much rain in the last 48 hrs and it is still pouring down, creating havoc in our communities and town. Our town has been put in a state of emergency and 110 people have been evacuated from their homes.

Whilst marooned inside the house I have managed to stay busy, and I finished a short sleeved cardigan this morning Design 26 from the book Noro Mini knits.

and my woven shawl/throw that I blogged about recently.

This dear little dove of peace is bringing me much pleasure. My friend Mary made one for each member of our small stitching and knitting group.
Mary has had a year of some frightening health issues, and has come through it with flying colours. She has been a huge inspiration to me this year as I have watched her live it all with courage and immense bravery and selflessness.

Meanwhile I am praying for this rain to cease !

A Sea of Sounds

I see from my last post that it is has been three weeks since I wrote, and thinking about it , I realise that the only time I have used the Mac. is when I am checking the emails....a sorry state of affairs indeed !
My time has been completely taken up with music, music and more music.!!
The last three weekends I have been playing my violin in three different concerts, and the final is tonight.....Handels's Messiah.

There have been many, many hours of rehearsals and practices with my violin tucked up on my shoulder with it's sound so close to my ear, that even when I am asleep I have dreams that I am still playing.
 My violin sometimes seems as if it is a very dear friend who I cannot bear to be parted from for even a day.

Some of the highlights from the previous  concerts have been Vaughan Williams's The Lark Ascending, and The Wasp Overture, Mozart's Piano Concerto No.20., Schumann's Spring Symphony, Beethoven Symphony No.8., but I think my favorite is The Messiah with the trumpet coming in on the Hallelujah Chorus and Worthy is the Lamb at the very end. Soul stirring stuff at the very least.









Today I shall make time for a quiet hour at my weaving loom. This blanket is very nearly finished and reminds me of all things to do with the sea on a beautiful still, calm day.

A simple tabby weave using laceweight and 4ply merino.

I hope you enjoy the links to all the music that has been filling my head recently.

Christmas will soon be here and this is always a favorite to listen to as I am making the mince pies.

Wrapping up

I have finished knitting my first Christmas gift. It is the Simple Effective Shawl pattern, and I used two skeins of Noro Silk Garden light. After the blocking I am going to wrap it up ready for Christmas, I might not be able to wait until then though ... I have become notorious for giving the gift as soon as it is ready !

Here are some images from my garden taken this morning while I had a little wander outside. Every day now, I am seeing lots of little friends opening out, and coming to life again from their winter sleep. Such pleasures ......these gifts from the garden.

One for the boys

I have been power knitting the last few days, finishing a vest for the youngest boy in my family and trying    to work on a vest for the more senior boy in my life.

Baby Leo has just turned one.

Vest was size two knitted in opal sock wool.

I had just put the last stitch in and Leo turned up, right on cue

for a photo shoot. Isn't he lovely !!

I shall show the other vest when it's done ...I don't know if the boy will be as obliging as Leo.

Earth, Sea and Sky

 There's nothing

better

than a

walk on the beach and a

    sandcastle to build.

Tiny Pleasures

Taking time today to take a walk in the sunshine.

To pick some flowers  out of the garden,

and to crochet a few more granny squares for this blanket in progress.
I started this a year or so ago, and it had been put away when I was having one of my 'clean up' days.
I was thoroughly inspired to make it when I looked at Lucy's ( Attic 24 )  flickr page and saw all her lovely blankets, and all the other beautiful work that has been crocheted by others that she has inspired and enthused.

I have used Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. Some of these colors have been discontinued and I have had to choose some other colors so that I can finish it.
 It is supremely soft  and cuddly.
 A good one for the Grandbabies to snuggle into when they come to visit.

Thank you all so much for your thoughtful comments on little Basil's passing. He has featured in so many of our family stories in the last decade or so, and it feels really strange living here without his snuffly presence following me around.
His little sidekick Billie is certainly feeling it, he has been very quiet this week, and keeps giving me a questioning look.
I guess we will both get used to it in time.

Basil (March 1998 - October 2011)

A Dog Has Died

Pablo Neruda

My dog has died
I buried him in the garden next to a rusted old machine.
Some day I'll join him right there, but now he's gone with his shaggy coat, his bad manners and his cold nose,and I, the materialist, who never believed in any promised heaven in the sky for any human being, I believe in a heaven I'll never enter.
Yes, I believe in a heaven for all dogdom where my dog waits for my arrival waving his fan-like tail in friendship.
Ai, I'll not speak of sadness here on earth, of having lost a companion who was never servile.
His friendship for me, like that of a porcupine withholding its authority, was the friendship of a star, aloof, with no more intimacy than was called for, with no exaggerations: he never climbed all over my clothes filling me full of his hair or his mange, he never rubbed up against my knee like other dogs obsessed with sex.
No, my dog used to gaze at me, paying me the attention I need, the attention required to make a vain person like me understand that, being a dog, he was wasting time, but, with those eyes so much purer than mine, he'd keep on gazing at me with a look that reserved for me alone all his sweet and shaggy life, always near me, never troubling me, and asking nothing.
Ai, how many times have I envied his tail as we walked together on the shores of the sea in the lonely winter of Isla Negra where the wintering birds filled the sky and my hairy dog was jumping about full of the voltage of the sea's movement: my wandering dog, sniffing away with his golden tail held high, face to face with the ocean's spray.
Joyful, joyful, joyful, as only dogs know how to be happy with only the autonomy of their shameless spirit.
There are no good-byes for my dog who has died, and we don't now and never did lie to each other. So now he's gone and I buried him, and that's all there is to it.

Freesias

I couldn't resist sharing a photo of these fresias freshly cut from my garden.

The glass vase is one that was given to me recently by my daughter Sarah. It has a little wire cage at the top to hold the stems in place and I love it to bits. I know I shall probably use it every day from now on.

All Things Bright and Beautiful

It is not often that I have a complete perfect day all to myself, a day when I don't have to jump in the car, wave goodbye to the dogs and whizz into town on ' matters of great importance'.

Today is such a day, a bright and beautiful day.

I decided to make some jam from the berries left over in the freezer from last Summer...Jumbleberry Jam made from strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and boysenberries.

I did some washing.

We have had some visitors staying in the cottage, they came to see the Rugby World Cup, and they were so much fun. I was sad to see them drive off this morning.
I love the smell of freshly washed white cotton sheets, another one of life's great pleasures.

A little more work on my applique quilt, and I still have several hours left this afternoon. I think it's warm enough to plant carrot seeds and some more sweet peas.
Perfect !