Return from the desert.....

we have all been busy. There has been so much productivity in our talented group recently. Vanessa is

producing ever more interesting, beautiful and whimsical ceramics punctuated by lots of crochet towards a beautiful shared project blanket with Liz: the stunning Purl Soho Bear's Rainbow Blanket. A huge undertaking but clearly addictive. Ivana is nesting. Big Time. Only  few week to go and almost everyday  she posts yet another finished project. It is a particularly unique period in your life - those last weeks before the birth of your first child when you are no longer working, have some time on your hands and an overwhelming urge to CREATE. They are of course renovating as well. As you do. We have been joined by Jacinta who I have the pleasure to work alongside. She is a novice crocheter - still cautious and lacking confidence but brave and bold and most importantly, good company. She is learning fast.

Nicole and Liz have both finished rather extraordinary mohair jumpers - I wil chase up the references and photos. both rather stunning. Nicole feels that she might need an arctic winter to actually get some wear out of hers. Right now, in Sydney, it is usually hard to imagine feeling cold. The skies and our lungs are thick with ash and dust, though we are very lucky near the coast compared to those further inland, particularly in the Blue Mountains. I am feeling full of forboding for the summer ahead. 

I can't remember what everyone else is doing right now. I shall have to photograph and document next tme. 

I have a few things to show. Above is a Lace Edged Women's Hat for my friend Romi who has recently started cancer treatment and has lost all her hair as you do. She lives in tropical climes so I thought cotton most appropriate and this Morris and Sons Avalon 8ply 100% Pima cotton is just that. Very nice to knit with. It was a little big - as Romi pointed out - a medium size assumes a medium head plus hair. I suggested she throw it into a hot wash to shrink it a little. I don't think she's convinced but she looks good in her large collection of scarves in the meantime. I also managed to teach her and her daughter how to knit when up North last week. Her daughter asked for lessons and paid great attention and picked it up so well. Romi watched what I did with L and just picked up the needles and got on with it. Great hands. She is not what she would consider crafty - not even remotely, so it was quite a surprise for me and her! Watch this space for progress. 

Meanwhile, I also made a little baby's lace jacket for baby Zoe, born late September. It is a Bendigo Woollen Mills pattern and knitted in Luxury 4ply pure wool machine washable yarn.