Critting at Liz's

Another lovely evening of friends, food and fibre.
We missed Nicole who was caught up with editing the last minute changes on a book that goes to press on Thursday. And Dina - where was Dina? Otherwise, we were all present. Natasha walked in looking magnificent in her new Noro shawl which we must persuade her to write about. Here is a sneak peak. She is recovering from flu and not feeling her best, but I think she looks fabulous.

We drank tea from Liz's grandmother's beautiful china cups. My grandmother had a lovely collection of these too. Like Liz, they gave me great delight and I was always a little disappointed that I didn't end up with any of them. I hope someone is enjoying them. They speak to the whole ritual and elegance of tea, of bringing out the best china as a sign of respect for guests and being on one's best behaviour. Liz's son made a beautiful moist banana cake. As our children grow, they are becoming more of an active presence in the group. I expect they will start to join as active members in in the next few years. If we let them! There is something a sacred about our gathering of Mums. It is our time. Maybe the kids can start their own group. 

I have been crocheting together my Lizard Ridge pieces with increasing excitement. What's more, it is suddenly very cold and I am looking forward to snuggling under it on the couch with a child or two at hand for extra warmth. 

Lot of busy hands

Craft Fair, Darling Harbour 2013

Did any of you brave the fair this year? There is always such a mix of trash and treasure but I do enjoy it!

This was the first time I've taken Eva as a companion rather than in a stroller whining. She loved it! We oohed and aahed and touched and prodded away  we didn't come home with many things. A few choice patterns, a little cloth, and lots of business cards for later website perusing and more thoughtful consideration.  But I did but myself a new Janome sewing machine. It will be so nice to use. Can't wait to bring it home for a play. I pick it up later in the week. Eva was very taken with all the fancy stitches. I like its smoothness, the absence of a foot pedal and automatic thread cutting and stitch locking. 

Maybe the best thing of all was a freebee from a formidable spinner who was womaning the guild table. 

As you can see it is a plastic disk with 8 slots around the edge and a central hole. A bunch of 7 threads are threaded up through the middle and then locked into each of the notches leaving one free. 

Eva has selected the third thread to the right of the notch

The third thread to the right of the notch is then placed into the free notch.

Then you move the disk around so that the notch is up the top again and keep going. After awhile the cord builds up in the middle and can be pulled through to the back and you will see the cord emerge......

Tea Cosy update

My tea cosy met with a rather surreal fate last Friday night. James O'Loughlin was MCing and doing a fine job. Most items were raffled with a signed rugby jersey and my tea cosy left out for auction. Somehow in the noise and confusion, James decided to auction them TOGETHER. Go figure. So, someone paid $800 for the jersey and got a bonus tea cosy (which James wore on his head for the duration of the auction). (Or maybe they paid $800 for the tea cosy and got a bonus jersey). The jersey winner's wife was very pleased with the cosy and refused to sell it to several people who offered reasonable sums thereafter. She put it on her head too. Several people were most put out by the process as they would happily have bid on the cosy on its own but had no interest whatsoever in the jersey.

Aah the drama and delight of a good school fundraiser.

Terrible photo of Jersey bidder's wife with tea cosy in situ.

Quilts 1700 - 1945 Queensland Art Gallery - love to see this

This is the Rajah Quilt which is apparently one of the most precious and historic textiles in the world. It was sewn by convict women en route to Australia  on the encouragement and under the supervision of the lady-passengers who were committed to the 'reform of female convicts'. the mind boggles.  

The exhibition is on  at the Queensland Art Gallery until September. love to go. Anyone interested in a weekend away?

Lizard Ridge Ready to go.

After consulting with the Critting Team I'm going for the cold to warm option.

Tea-cosy Time

It is Cocktail Party fundraiser time of year at Woollahra Public School and that means tea cosy time.
The first year I made a tea cosy for the silent auction it was a bit of a surprise hit with a last minute bidding war between two somewhat inebriated parties. Things got a little out of control and it ended up going for over $600. Very very silly. And I never even took a photo.

I've made one each year since and never quite reached those heights again. This year I've gone for something silly. It is inspired by one of Loani Prior's Really Wild Tea Cosies
and I've made a similar one before.

Here is my version - back

side

top view. 

Noro winter scarf

I am busy making scarves at the moment, even though the weather is still warm. I have been making them out of the Noro wool. The colors are so beautiful and dare I say strangely addictive. They come together beautifully in a very simple crochet stitch. This is one I have just finished and I am giving to my friend for her 50th birthday. I have three other scarves on the go. Must be time to start a blanket otherwise everyone will end up with one of these scarves for their birthdays.

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Friday night in the Barossa

I am spending the weekend away from the family in the Barossa Valley for my 20th anniversary of medical graduation. I didn't realize that there would be no one up here tonight so I have been strangely alone. After two weeks of battling colds I am really tired so after dinner da sola I am into bed with my knitting and the TV which I shall soon replace with a book. 

I have picked up a dormant project- a rather luscious scarf in Rowan Kidsillk Haze- a light and soft blend of mohair and silk. It is almost done. I think this weekend should nail it. 

It is definitely scarf time. It is cold and the neck asks for cover. 

I've had a wee google to see whether there are any worthwhile yarn destinations for tomorrow morning before the celebrations take off. There's a possibility in Tanunda but it is not promising. 

A Landmark moment and a new cure for nasal congestion

Today I finished the Last Square of my Lizard Ridge Blanket.
It has been a long journey.
24 squares.
24 balls of Noro.
Rather a lot of money
Such pleasure.

This evening I ceremoniously ironed each square and was astonished by the transformation. Particularly once I took my fogged up glasses off.

From This:

To this: 

What's more, the steam from the iron both warmed me up (it is cold here) and nicely cleared my congested nasal passages, thus adding to the ever growing evidence that knitting is good for your health. 

I repeated the above process 24 times with ever greater joy at the beauty of the emerging colours. 

And another revelation - the backs are as beautiful as the fronts. And I was considering backing this blanket. I am now thinking that I will make a feature of the back as well by making the seams decorative. Not sure how yet - perhaps by crocheting the squares together? Any ideas?