This sweater is NOT for my kitty! it's for my friend, Jonathan's poodle Beauregarde. As you can see, Honey does care for it much, he is bigger than Beau - so it should fit. it's a turtleneck.. short sleeve fluffy sweater !!!hahah it makes me laugh looking at it!! it was really fun to knit!

I have been enjoying my salt licorice and maurisis tea that jonathan sent me.My other friend Erin sent me same cool soy bean mint honey shampoo samples, and face lotion and these OILS that are great!! Absinthe, Shiso and Cacao --which I really like it has orange and cacao bean smell .. Stacey also sent me another package of these soaps, candy, stripey tissues , hello kitty candy and another soap with vintage chinese 1930's girls , and another soap that you can't see in the picture but looks like a cicada .... I love things that smell good!! i love packaging ....

I had the day off work today and that was really great!! I loved it - though I stayed inside most of the day because it's freezing...it's winter and really cold. In the morning it's about 4 C!! Tomorrow I am going to start and finish a little cell phone bag for niece .. she wanted a stripe-y one..but I might do a mohair pink one- she likes pink.

My next project after that is to start a baby sweater with the cashmere,merino and microfibre yarn that jonathan go tme . it is soooo soft.. i have not seen anything like it here.....

I am a lucky girl - I have the best friends and family ever. Sometimes living so far away I get lonely and sad.. but things like this make me happy and feel loved-
it was my b-day on23 May , but i got 2 presents a few days ago in the mail and also my sister brought me a present and .. i had to share .. it's not the material stuff but the fact that they know me so well --

my sister got me the coolest anitque chinese hat box ever!!! inside is another hat box!! the best thing is the designs-- in chinese - "fu" is bat-- it is also means "good luck " hence bats= good luck ... and i love bats !!!!! it's so wonderful -- it makes me happy to look at them!!!!

my best friend jonathan -- who has known me for 2 decades- scary... got me alll kinds of tonya things-- salt licorice, mauritis tea (okay i requested that) assam tea, some awesome merino ,silk and cashmere yarn in lavender and white !!! and a Cocteau TWins CD-- and this cool house bag and JEANSSSSSSSSS - which are very expensive here in NZ-- all wrapped sooo purrrr dee in pink and purple tulle -t ooooo cool --

and my friend stacey - sent me this amazing vintage deco hair brush, mirror and container -- I LOVEE IT!!!!
and then later i went ot the mail box and there was another package - from Stacey with soaps, and stripey tissues sosooooooooooooooooooo coool

my sister and her BF - Tobias were here for a flash and they left day Monday and I've been sad.
We had a good short visit --too short- and it is really cold.
this is a picture of tasha and tobias and of a beautiful bag that tobias wove for us out of linen and cotton. It is a traditional Wampanong design . I love it !!

this is me and my friend, the exercise ball . i have learned all sorts of fun and exciting ways to become fit and healthy.
i like to play on my exercise ball everyday.
playing in the garden next to the rose bush wasn't a good idea, as you can see from my patch in this picture.
this exercise is especially fun with the little massaging bumps. yeah!!! hahahahahahhahahahahahhah


no, really - the reason why i posted this is because my friend asked me why i didn't have any photos of me on this blog . the reason is i have only really unflattering and silly photos like this of myself... so there ...

My sister and her BF are coming from Hawai'i on Tuesday, where it's nice hot and summer to NZ where it's winter and cold , so i crocheted them both hats.

My kitties are sooooo cute !!!!

I am getting sick this weekend and feeling yucky. I'm going to spend the ret of my day cleaning and re-knitting my sweater.
I decide to combine the pink and brown sweater and go back to my orignal idea of striped sweater. I will keep the sleeves all brown and re-knit the front and back. The fear of not having enough brown yarn has been holding me back.. pics soon , i hope

yesterday we started staining our fence. It's raining today , so the rest will have to wait. and it's my husband's birthday, so I made as per his request a cheese cake .
I decided to post a picure of the socks- thatI finished--a few days ago ..
My new project is a sweater for Beau , my best friend's poodle. I bought some feathers yarn in maroon, and I bought some pink for my other friends Chiuaua (sp?). I went the our local craft store ,that sells material , house stuff and yarn... and they were having a sale . I bought 20 cm needles-- they are huge - wonder what i should make /use them for . they were only $3!!!! and they are bamboo. they were probably on sale because nobody knows what to use them for!!!!!

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...