Rainy days

are great knitting days - no guilt at the vege garden not being weeded, the pool not being cleaned.

The Baktus and The Ruffle scarf they are finished!

The Ruffled scarf is not Blaise's despite her pleas, she is free to knit one for herself.

the pain of denial was cushioned somewhat by Tiramisu cupcakes, the latest in the Uni holiday cupcake trials.

The recipe is from Martha Stewart - we implore you to make them mini-muffin size, regular cupcake size is just too much! and definitely make the espresso-marsala syrup, we did half and half with vanilla syrup and while still good it lacked the oomph of the coffee.

Busy busy

WIP update:

Flash's vest is 20% finished - not certain if he will get it this winter, we'll see!

I started a Baktus this morning, using my hand dyed handspun superwash merino (above) in the "60 seconds" colourway (you know the ad - lichen, moss and mildew - just spray and walk away!) I blame Ailsa for this - her Baktus was so lovely and versatile, I just had to make one for myself. It is racing along, very addictive and great tv knitting.

and this is a version of the Ruffle lace scarf I cast on 200 sts and am working in garter st, increasing every 4th row, using 2 skeins of Madil Kid Seta in the the 681 colourway...love this yarn despite the imaginative colour description, it makes other Mohairs feel like a brillo pad.

I'm also working on a mitred square baby blanket - no photos yet.

I have finally finished most of my secret projects - phew! I can start sharing my work with you again soon.

New pattern

the free pattern for the Tasman summer tunic (aka swirly dancing dress) is now available on Ravelry or you can download the .pdf from here: download now , it isn't on the website yet - a bit of work to do there and far too much work on my desk right now.

It has beads, pointy decreases and a ruch-able bodice everything your princess needs in a summer dress!

100 kinds of good

he IS a squishy! Inigo and I talked about birds and water and kids, he loved the books I brought with me from New Zealand, and we all enjoyed listening to Donna reading "Willie wants to wee wee" by NZ author and creator of Footrot Flats Murray Ball (isbn: 1869436717)and I was so happy to finally meet him and squeeze him.

I can't list all of my lovely friends who were amongst the 80 people knitting in the sun at Darling Harbour, but these two (and the squishie's gorgeous Mum Lara) made me cry the most - these are the people I didn't want to fall in love with because I knew I would have to leave Oz one day, but I couldn't help it, Donna, Ailsa and I are knitting soulmates and luckily we have adorable husbands who think our conversations and passion for our craft are endearing. I'm afraid I took next to no photos - I was too busy catching up. I have noticed though that Ailsa and I have very similar hair, and they are luckily a lot more organised than me - having better photos on their blogs.

I'll be back soon with Flash, and I'll definitely be at Knitting Camp next year - make mine a mojito!

WWKIP day

I'm very excited - tomorrow I'm leaving on a jet plane and popping across the ditch to see a lot of my favourite people, and to meet some for the first time. I better bring my waterproof mascara. It has taken me 2 years to be happy to go back - and this event was the perfect catalyst.

Sydney WWKIP event is at Darling harbour, which also happens to be the place that Flash and decided we would be open to Sydney if the chance arose, the place that on another evening we made the decision to accept a transfer offer, the place we enjoyed many candlelit dinners together and the place we partied with friends and family.

I'm not good with names, I try, but I'll know your face, I am very shy - so just come and remind me - if not at the WWKIP then at Kinokuniya in the craft section or Morris and Sons, the button shop or David Jones chocolate shop.

If you are in Auckland there will be knitters at the War memorial museum from 2pm (actually I know a few who will be there earlier) go and join them!

visits

I'm going to have to keep my camera close to hand as I sit in the studio this winter - look who visited today!

looking for all the world as though he was painted at a pre-school, in vibrant primaries!

speaking of which I visited the Eden Campus last friday, I was feeling in need of a good dose of "put on your big girl panties and get on with it" having just had a CT scan to further figure out what has been going on with my body over the past 3 months.

[and can I just say a big "yay!" here, because my endocrinologist has just rung to say my adrenal glands are fine and that I have an ovarian cyst - the ovary is 3x normal size but full of fluid (good) and will be dealt with in a few weeks]

and boy did I get a reminder/ awakening there, the school is wonderfully set out, with a large childcare centre downstairs - and it was full of yummy, wriggly, smiling babies! The Mums were out on their weekly lunchbreak but the head teacher showed me around and was overwhelmed by the garments donated by our Knit Rangers (thank you to everyone from near and far who contributed) - picture above of the pile. I have offered my services if any of the girls would like a knitting class in the future, it was such a lovely, warm, positive place to be.

As for the knitting - I'm doing a lot of it, but it is all secret, I'll be relieved when I am through this patch and onto the next job - I have a plan and it's exciting!