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?