my friend Stacey-(in middle) sent me these hilarious sites:

http://cuteoverload.com/

http://stuffonmycat.com/

and here is a picture of us and my sister in 1997 , yikes-

Almost done on my second side of the socks- heading down to the toe... not too bad for a first attempt.

i realised today- i have alot of red shoes-

i like red shoes- i want more red shoes!
those other boots looked dark red when i ordered them- when they arrived they were more like pink.. i bought some suede dye-- red- but i noticed the zipper is more pink - so i might sell them - or dye them - but red or practial brown?


today-i am helping some people with their various sewing projecting- blind hemming 6 curtain panels- and later tonight - sewing a together part of a costume... i really want to sew a skirt.

diamonds or snails???


most gals would prefer diamonds . but i prefer this snail ring, that i have been obsessing about since septmeber. my hubby got me it for my birthday--i love it -- i love it !!!!!!






my hand needs some moisturising.....
and i bought myself a red coat for my b-day because i 've been wanting one and it's winter .....and it 's much cuter on than it looks in the photo. i love it --

i started on the other side of the sock this morning !!!

TA DA!!! pretty much finsihed with my first sock-- I just need to bind off !!! I love the way it fits around the heel- even though they aren't for me . Part deux - the second side should be alot faster than this one.

This week has been really busy . We had our nephew and two nieces staying with us for the week - it was great. Ruth and I both celebrated our birthdays - and had a party. She also has picked up knitting - she learned from her grandmother . she thinks it's eaiser to knit than crochet..... i got her her some new knitting needles with happy faces on the ends and a bunch of varigated feather yarn.

I'm going to finish my sock now and start on the second half!!!

Pictures from our drive the other day-- NZ country side and my sock-- but i have made much more progress since this picture was taken.

SECRET PAL-- thank you Farrah for my cool e card today!!!!!

yesterday - i went to the knitting store and got help with my sock heel turning - boy, am i a dork!!!

the problem that i was having is embarassing ... i basically read the pattern wrong over and over again.
the sock was divided 20 stitiches per needle ( 3 needles) then you changed 30 stitches on one needle and 15 on the other two - well i was suppose to purl 19 and turn on the 30 stitch needle- and i was so use to it having only have 20 stitcheson that needle- i was purling til the end- 29 stitiches . WHAT A DORKUS!!!
anyway i am jamming along now -- working down to the toe.....

we also drove for over 5 hours today and i 'll post some scenic pics of NZ country side next post.

I'm frustrated with the "turning the heel " portion of this sock . i have spent the last 2 days trying to figure it out . i have been online, looked thru my knitting books. it clicks and then - i get confused . i think it's because i knit from my right needle to my left? because i am left handed? it's doesn't look right. it's all slanting to one side only ...i have taken it out about 100 times and restarted.
i am stuck - i need to get pass this heel part TODAY! i think i might have to seek help for this.

already thinking about next pair of socks i want to try the 2 circular needles approach ....the DP - skewers are annoying .

i opened the back door to let the kitties play outside for a little while . it's cold today but the sun is out. A butterfly flew in the house and now she's stuck in here ... i have the door open- hopefully she'll fly out soon--the cats are freaking out.. i just got the butterfly to climb on a feather and released her.. but her wing dust is damaged....

I'm so excited I got my secret pal information !! This is my first secret pal exchange and i am very excited!!!!!!

I also went to the yarn store- yikes- -I shouldn't have ... but I really wanted to try a pair of socks ( no -I haven't finished sweaters yet..) I am going to give these to my mom, i picked the colors for her. I 've never knitted anything on 2.5mm needles - I think they are smaller than satay skewers!!!


I am so excited about these socks- I am obssesed. Next week we are watching our 2 nieces and nephew for a week, so i am going to knit like a mad woman until then becauseI don't think I'll have a lot time next week.. besides it 's good knitting weather--- COLD.



It's autumn down here - nearly winter ....i am still getting use to : June = winter, December = summer. it's so disorientating!! it's been getting cold -15C ... what is that in Farenheit???? wore my coat yesterday...

secret pal information questionnaire


I just got an email today - from secret pal 8 , to post this.
and i am a little worried as i am not onthe participants list and i don't know who my secret pal is yet... i am sure it will get sorted.



1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love natural fibres - and soft fibres. i like wool, cotton, silk mixes, angora. I dont like 100 % acrylic. I really don't like acrylic. I really like brown sheep wool "lamb's pride" the mohair mix-- the regular bulky or worsted. they don't have it here in.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a few bags that I've made. I have one for crohet hooks, one for big needles and one for skinny/ small needles and DPs.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned how to knit when I was about 14 yrs old- i'm 36 now but didn't really "get into it", but I was an avid crochet-er since 10 yrs old- and I found knitting hard. thru the years i picked up my knitting and made scarves etc a few times. I really started again in 2000 , when I was worked at crystal palace -- straw into gold- in berkeley,California. Then I stopped excpet for a few ponchos for friends. I am really starting to get into knitting again since i moved here to NZ - 2.5 yrs ago. i had never use patterns so that probably why i stuck to hats and scarves and ponchos. Crocheting , I've made purses , bags, hats, blankets- tons of stuff.. I just started using patterns. horray- makes life simple .. der! i found a copy of stitch n bitch at the library and that with elizabeth zimmerman's Knitting Around (from my days at straw into gold) i gained some confindence in patterns..
so -hence my 2 UFO sweaters.
so i'm a beginner in knitting and intermediate -advance in crocheting and sewing

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
yes at amazon.com and i started a froogle list
If you type in my email address it comes up
http://www.amazon.com
I tried to be all computer savvy and have a link here - but I haven't really mastered that. sorry.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
essential oils - currently wearing and like gardenia and white ginger is nice too
I like lavender, peony and rose ..

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
love sweet things- dark chocolate!
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I have a hand spindle and used it a few times-- but that's a long process to make yarn ... I'd love to get a spinning wheel one day. I sew alot . I like emobroidery and crocheting.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love music all different music. Lately , I listen to http://www.kcrw.com/show/mb and streaming music- i like their show - "morning becomes ecelectic".

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I am so boring, i love black !!! and grey and browns..... I have started wearing a little more color since i've moved to NZ (everyone wears black here). I like jewel tones too --dark deep reds are my current color.. but i like dark oli-y greens, dark purples, navy... a little rusty orange - ..but mostly boring basic black. But i really like texture !!!!

I LOVE polka dots and stripes !!!!!!!

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my one husband, 2 cats. We don't have kids yet, but fingers crossed- soon. All of my family is in Hawai'i and my friends are all in California.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
yes, yes and ponchos - I dont' have one- but I have made about 6 for other people!!
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I don't have a favorite item so far, because I am just getting into reading patterns. Initally, i like knitting hats, scarves because they were easy and fast. I think I'll attempt a pair of socks -- after I complete my sweaters
13. What are you knitting right now?
I have 3 current knitting projects- 2 are on my blog and I haven't picked them up since that post because I am at the neck and arm hole shaping... i'm sacred .. but the weather is gettting cold and I'll need those sweaters.
I also have a dog sweater in an ice blue mohair started for my friends poodle.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
YEs- who doesn't?
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I prefer circular- bamboo feels good. I want to try knitting on those glass needles too.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yes- I have one (yarn winder) somewhere . It might be in my storage in Hawai'i.
17. How did you learn to knit?
An Auntie showed me
18. How old is your oldest UFO?
I'm so embarrassed- that would be that pink sweater on my blog, that i started in 2000 .. but it was packed away in storage from 2001 - 2003 .. (like that's an excuse) see question number 13 for why it's not done yet.. I WILL FINISH it ! I started on the brown one last month from scratch because i started thinking the bulky pink yarn wouldn't look good one me-( or was i subconsciously trying to avoid the arm and neckhole shaping ??)so the brown one will be finished first!!!! i am going to state here - I WILL FINISH THE BROWN SWEATER WITHIN 30 days!
19. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween- I love bats
20. Is there anything that you collect?
I am a collect -a -holic. But i 've had to curb my evil ways since i've moved here. I love old fabrics, books ( especially craft and sewing books) linens - like tea towels etc with needlework , clothes like 1900's - 1940's. and SHOES!!!! i love Shoes - ( terrible) i also like Hello Kitty - i 've been a fan or hers since 1976..scary that havne't outgrown her yet.

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Subscriptions to NZ are too expensive ... or I would have a ton of them - knittting and otherwise. Books I am eye balling are on my amazon list...

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
??umm not that i can think of right now in knitting , but my blog skills need improvement.

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
no- but I will be !!! I am a US size 8- wide-ish
24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
23 May

Finished projects!!
I finally finished the jonathan birthday project... and i'll mail it today...i used a kilt pin as a closure ( made 4 button holes for the pin to go thru) -- to go with the kilt obsession he has and add to the "tough" punk rock feeling - since that 's what he requested- a tough macho knitting bag... i should have made the project bags in polka dots and plaid to match the needle case and the lining of the bag... rather than the scary skull fabric i found -- oh well ( i didn't post pics of those)

and i finished my cloche- looks yuck. i ran out of yarn/thread. I need to rip it out and make the black band wider and bigger.. ugh... oh well...

I am almost finished with my skull knitting bag for jonathan. I wanted to add a hard bottom so it will stand up on it's own and metal feet - so the bottom wont get dirty. I went to the hardware store on Friday afternoon after work and cut it on Saturday. I had to cover the hardboard and drill holes- and I am just about finshed.. tonight maybe......
but in the meantime, i had to start another project. I went to this great store called, "david's emporium" . They've got a little bit of everything - they buy alot of old stock. i went there to buy the feet for the bag and they had crochet thread -- little balls in this great red-- only 4 balls -on sale for $1.50 each..i couldn't resist.... so i am making a cloche .. these are pictures of my progress - i just have to finish the brim..

here are some pics of some bags i made. i'll post some more pics of different bags later ... the pictures are not very clear.

i haven't met my jonathan b-day deadline...tomorrow maybe?

is this horrific and sad or sweet and beatrix potter like?
are the cats playing with the butterfly or murdering it?

well i found butterfly parts all over the house the next day....

L'inspiration n'est pas?

isn't this amazing -- it's Irish crochet 1908 ..
this picture is from a Taschen book "Fashion : A History form 18th to the 20th "- volume 2- from the Collection of the Kyoto Costume Museum.
I can't imagine making something so beautiful - let alone wearing this - or maybe i can...

grey felt applique for bag- not finished yet

b-day card
starting the card -the wheel of faces...

i spent the day, well not the whole day... making my best friend - jonathan, a birthday card--
jonathan has been my best friend for over 20 years and lives in LA and was really obsessed with kilts and his Scottish hertitage-- and bought a kilt - a real one made in Scotland with his family tartan .. and I found this little tartan and jacket paper outfit and wanted to use it for his b-day card..

so I made a wheel of different faces and a window of pictures -- of him, one of his dog and people he likes- martha, elton john, dolly, liza -- I forgot oprah... oh well.. anyway-- you spin the wheel and see the different heads on top of the kilt wearing body......... and i sewed it together...

jonathan picked up knitting in december. he started knitting a beautiful cream scarf and requested a knitting bag .. and he asked it to be "tough" and he suggested the skull and crossbone motif.
so-this is what i have done... so far....

The skull and cross bone applique is grey- blue felt on black twill canvas which will be the body of the bag and i am lining it in navy polka dots.. . I got the applique design down and cut the bag out.. and now I am going to do a running stitch along the edges of the applique.. and need to finish sewing the bag. I also made two drawstring bags out of the only other skull and crossbone fabric I could find. I call them project bags ... I am a gemini and so i can never stick to one project - i have to have at least 3 going simutanteously-- hence - project bags to keep them separate and keep the fluffy white mohair from getting on black yarn -etc.. so - he too can start to be a neurotic knitter and have multiple projects going on - i have supplied him with 2 (maybe i 'll make more if i have time) . I am also making him a knitting needle case and it will be seam bias edged in tartan/plaid...

yikes time is running out - his b-day is 2 may-- and it will not gt there on time, but my plan is to have it finished on his b-day..... i better get back to it.

ruth
this is our niece - i was teaching her to crochet.. as you can see, she has mastered the chain stitch!! she is wearing a hat that i intially for myself, but it looked much better on her. i threaded some thin elastic around the bottom to make it fit her head better and put a red bell at the end.

i started crocheting when i was about her age. i was fascinated with making bun covers to wear over my hair bun in ballet class... now that i think of it -i did have a cool wardrobe of ponchos, shawls and matching hats...

my other kitty

this is my mean kitty -- well he's not mean he's grumpy..


i made this hat about 10 years ago in 1996- how scary-that was awhile ago-- when i was living in the bay area .. i actaully made quite a few - -i also made devil , frog , and bunny versions too...most ly for babies- but the kitties were a hit for all my girlfriends--they are crocheted...if anyone is interested I'll post pictures of the other versions..

blah blah blah
These are my cats Aby-- half abyssinian and tabby and Honey .. they are both boys.
I can't say I did well with their names-- long story.


Today is ANZAC today and I worked on my brown sweater-- Tomorrow I am not working and will work on my friend Jonathan's b-day present- a skull and cross bone bag for his knitting. He had requested a "tough" bag for his newly acquired passion for knitting. He started knitting in December and was furiously knitting a scarf.. which he has since stopped- I am hoping this bag will renew his interest in his scarf.. I'll post some pictures of that.....

finally have time to do some crafty bits...and to enjoy
my kitties-
my garden- which just needs to be ripped up and replanted
my knitting
my sewing
my painting-re painting the lounge
reading: R.I.P., SALAD cook books, just finsihed- Strangers- by Taichi Yamada
listening to KCRW online

and maybe make some jewlery..

"work does interfere with my pleasure" JWH quote

I am more of a sewing gal.. and I crochet lots...but I've recently picked up my knitting needles again.

I still a beginner knitter- I had been knitting mostly hats and scarves- I have started 2 sweaters simultanteously. The pink one I started in 2000 when I was living in Berkeley, California ...then I moved to Hawai'i and my knitting ceased -- too hot . I now live in NZ - I have picked up the pink sweater - which I started with no pattern and no idea what I was doing. I was hoping I'd figure out what to do when I knitted up to the arm hole area. Then I decidedi didn't think I'd look great in pink - so i started a brown version - but with a pattern which I've decided alter. i think i'm being industrious for my first sweater-- but I think it will work out and I'll wear no matter -even if one sleeve is longer!!!

These are some photos of my half finished sweaters- both are bell sleeved and the striped thing - was a start of a poncho -I actually completed a few of them a few years ago for my sister and friends.. but i included this in here because I am running out of brown yarn, and I have to pull the striped gonna be a poncho - so I can use the brown yarn from that - or I could also put a big pink stripe across the front--don't know...

Living in NZ - you 'd think wool yarn would be plentiful and cheap.. but apparently all the wool is exported. I am actually knitting yarn from the States. I shipped alot of yarn here because it's so expensive here for yarn.which they call "wool" even if it's acrylic-- which alot of yarn here is...