When I think about it, the thing with crafts and blogging is simple. If I'm blogging, I'm not making things. And if I'm making things, I'm not blogging! See? Simple. A little frustrating too.I have lots of lovely things to blog about. Tons of new things I'm making/I've made. A thoughtful, beadie birthday gift from my dear old mum (woe betide me when she reads THAT! hehehee!) Pinklizzy and her family moving back to SE Queensland and being near us all again (so cool, in so many ways!) New photography equipment and skills. Some links to wonderful, exciting jewelery and beading websites. An addiction to Polyvore to overcome (smile.) Heaps.
gee, reading this, I better get on with it all ...
I knitted this blanket when my daughter was expecting her daughter. Instead of knitting a bassinette sized blanket, I made something that would fit onto a cot, and be useful as a throw rug later on. The stitch, my favourite 'blackberry' stitch, is a texture I incorporate into many blankets. On this first use of the stitch for a baby blanket, I repeated the 'berry/plant' motif in the lace leaves edging. My daughter and I chose the colours to match a set of Beatrix Potter books and little girl things that she collected for her second child.
This blanket was a special project for me, not just because I was expecting my first grand-daughter, but because Pinklizzy had asked me if I would mind her giving her daughter my name, as her second name. She told me that this was not simply because she wanted to use the name. She wanted to express her love for me (amongst other things). I just cannot describe how honoured I was, by her choice. And how funny it was when she followed the request up by saying something like; "Besides, I can't wait to say "Isabelle Ruth!!" really loudly, when she does something naughty!" This continues to be a source of hilarity to both of us. The odd thing is that when I met Isabelle Ruth for the first time, we looked deeply into one another's eyes ... gazed ... and there was a strong measure of recognition, connection, understanding, shared ... mischief? Often the things we share now are full of mischief. 
My Dad loved to go out for coffee. When I was a little girl he sometimes took me with him. Dad liked
Vienna coffee, with a cloud of whipped cream peeking over the edge of the cup. I had chocolate milkshakes. I loved the way they served them in the metal cups from the milkshake machine. They tasted better that way, I swear they did! We had brandy snaps filled with whipped cream too. When I was grown up, I taught myself how to make brandy snaps. They'll always be special to me, spicy, warm reminders of time relaxing with my Dad.
I made this skirt for my granddaughter, last year. I chose colours reminiscent of chocolate and berries and used my favourite yarns ... Patons pure wool and Cleckheaton mohair and mohair/wool mixes.
This is another skirt that can either be knitted on circular needles, or in two pieces with side seams. Either way works perfectly well. My daughter tells me that it is comfy to wear, however I'm not happy with the practical impact of the fair-isle, just above the hem of the skirt. This makes the fabric inflexible at that point. The Isabelle fairy would be hard put to it to take giant strides wearing this. Next time I use fair-isle in a skirt, it will be near the waist, rather than at the hem.
This piece of knitting is a close up of detail on the bassinette blanket that I made for my grandson, Connor. It comes from the ruthieknits 'Berries and Cream' range. My first knits for young children in this range were for girls, and were consequently resplendently pink, red and mauve/purple. I needed to create something a little different for Connor, given that everything he would be given would be in 'boy' colours. I wanted this blanket to blend with his other stuff. Here it is, 'blueberry ice', perhaps?
The completed fabric is made with a mix of pure wool and mohair/wool/synthetic mix. All the yarns and soft and light. I used one of my favourite stitches, 'Blackberry' stitch (or 'bramble'.) The edging is crocheted.
My grandson, Sam, was cautious when I suggested knitting him a scarf. His sister's scarf was lacy and pink. Aussie blokes don't wear lacy pink scarves, especially when they're boys growing up in smaller country centres. Seeing the hesitation in his eye I laced my offer with (unsubtle) suggestions of traditional 'boy' colours. Blues, a little red, green and yellow to brighten it up. A nice tweedy, manly texture. Despite my attempts he was still suspicious, asking; "Bluuuuuue?" I cast around my mind for a more reassuring line but couldn't find one. I was reduced to; "Yeeees, mainly blues!" delivered in an even firmer tone. It was at that point I gave up the idea of adding 'purple' to the colourway. I watched his face clear. I had clinched the deal! And here it is, Sam's masculine, hand made, garter slip stitched scarf. It's knitted with suitably rugged Patons 100% wool in an 8 ply, and I understand that the additional colours have not been a problem. The proof of the pudding will be his allowing me to knit him another scarf ... when this one reaches the end of its life!
Soothing water pools are stepped along the side of PinkLizzie's house. Nestling in the pools are lush, green leaves, which in their season bear these glorious water lilies. Add to these the back verandah and it is a wonderful place to relax in, with a coffee, toward the end of the day.
It is famously claimed that chocolate raises endorphine levels in the human body. Brillat-Savarin is reported to have said;
"Good living is an act of intelligence,
by which we choose things which have
an agreeable taste rather than those
which do not."
As chocolate is delicious, I think that the eating of chocolate should be taken to be the sign of an excellent mind. In fact, I would take it further ... if eating something that tastes agreeable is an act of intelligence, and since hormonal women tend toward chocolate as if to a natural urge, the hormonal woman who eats chocolate is, in fact, HIGHLY INTELLIGENT
After all, "...all true chocolate lovers know that [chocolate] is a
vegetable. It comes from the cocoa bean, beans are veggies, 'nuff
said."
Winter weather in South East Queensland is often cool enough for a little cover, but not cold enough for heavier knits. I knitted this wrap last winter, so that I'd have something light to throw around my shoulders when it was chilly. My mother used it, my sister used it ... I don't recall having used it once! But that was because I was using my stripy Inca-style shawl.
I knitted this wrap in a lovely, creamy white Cleckheaton yarn, Studio Mohair. The completed fabric is one of my favourite ribs ... a slipped stitch rib. I'd really like to try this wrap with hand-made lace lining the cast on and cast off edges.
The slipped stitch rib I used is easily knitted. If you would like the instructions for either the stitch or the pattern, leave a message or email me. I'm happy to help!
