yet more yarn

Darned NZ light means I can't find anywhere in the house to take photos without glare! I dyed another 30 skeins yesterday, mostly in the colours I'm selling on the website, but I did try out a few ideas: above - this photo can't quite capture the blue greens of the yarn, I'm calling this one "West Coast breakers" because that is exactly what it looks like, I love it so much I'm keeping it to make socks. The greens below are the colours of my vegie garden and almost as yummy.

No prizes for guessing who the garment made from this yarn is going to be for, and in case Mummy feels left out, I dyed up some laceweight for her too. I'm calling this one "Pinata!"

I haven't been able to get a good enough photo of the last experiment, basically it is underpainted with jewel bright pinks/blues/purples and overpainted with black, the colours peek through the black and charcoal - I'm calling it "80's eye makeup" because it reminds me of those Revlon eyeshadows from the 80's, you chose the case, then mix and matched the shadows, the first 2 I bought were electric blue and hot pink...stylish.

Knit Rangers

a very successful meetup yesterday! see here

thanks for the comments about Frasier - he has bells on his collar, so hopefully won't be dragging any dead creatures back home, if he does we will have to re-think his liberty.

those toilets

are in a small town in Northland - the north of the North Island, I have visited them once and would recommend them - they literally are a work of art - by the artist Frederick Hundertwasser - for more info and more photos go here .

There's no-one else quite like us...

the whole family are loving this ad created to promote domestic travel in NZ...this one's for you Mary-Helen and Kate (make sure the sound is turned on!)

Friday round up

so - all week i have had the kind of headcold they have on the TV ads, the kind where you just keep taking the pills and you can "soldier on" so to speak - I felt a bit spacey, and my ears were blocked, so I felt like I was underwater...but I went to work etc. However, now I remember there were things I meant to tell you...like the "rugby thing" how did that go ? hmmm

NZ won against the French - the game was very bad, even people who love rugby agreed that the game was very bad...we were served dinner at 12.45am...I was kinda no longer hungry, and hadn't had any alcohol, so was quite bored, unlike the rest of them who were partying up large and loud...oh and Flash dropped our good camera...onto concrete...luckily he only broke the sunfilter lens,but he will not be allowed that camera again! I was very well behaved in the face of adversity. (the muesli bars helped) I also enjoyed the fact that I was seated next to a large contingent of French fans - they gave the place a bit of culture!

Cute secret knitting continues a-pace, so cute and so easy to knit...except for last night, when I actually did manage to curl up in bed with John Safran (vs God - the tv series on DVD) my knitting, and Layla (previously known as the good cat) I'm knitting away happily, watching John work his way through various religions (and try on Mormon undergarments) when suddenly I came to the end of my yarn..."weird" thought I, I could swear I've only used 1/4 of the ball...and then I realised, Layla (the good cat) was not really asleep, she was pretending to be asleep, while secretly chewing on my yarn....I don't know which is worse, Layla quietly undermining me, or Frasier's new trick - he launches himself at my backside from the top of the stairs when I am halfway down the stairs, and invariably pulls my pyjama pants down, it is very undignified.

Frasier has also taken to stealing...first it was a wire coathanger which I found he had dragged onto the front lawn (through the cat door no less!), next Flash saw a green streak as Frasier ran past him in the hallway...he was making off with a decent sized bag of cat treats! We are worried that he may extend his nefarious ways to the neighbourhood as I have heard many exotic cats do...I'm very concerned that he may drag back one of the nextdoor neighbour's chihuahuas...he is bigger than them already!

thank you for the nice emails back from people who have purchased yarn - as I said, now send the photos of what you make!

I hope everyone has a good weekend, the girls and I are baching it until sunday, with Flash away, so we'll keep the fire stoked, the DVD player humming, and Blaise baking cookies, who knows I may not wear day clothes at all this weekend ( except to The Knit Rangers - meeting on Sunday - I promise I will not wear my jammas)

moving right along...

from yesterday (oh and THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN!)

don't get me wrong, I love New Zealand - it truly is the most beautiful country on Earth, that's why we call it Godzone. I am happy to be home, and settled into our new old life (I keep writing "2004" on documents at work because thats when I left...my brain seems to have stuck!) I travel the same route, just from a different house, however, life is harder here - the cost of living is higher, even though our tax is lower, the higher rates kick in earlier, electricity and food are definitely more expensive. We are fine and happy, and home is where Flash and the kids are of course (except when he is away!) I just want to be honest about what I feel.

It's pouring with rain here, I have a stinking head cold, and just want to crawl into bed with my test knitting, but have to go and buy firewood and pick the girls up from school, Blaise is an ace firestarter, so I'll be able to go to bed once we are back home - I've already made beetroot pesto again to mix into fettucine tonight - it went down reasonably well last time, half of this family just aren't as enthusiastic about vegies as they should be!

I'm boring myself - go see Jessica over at Indexed her venn diagrams and graphs are hilarious and thought provoking - go, go now before I start posting Frasier photos!

7 random things

I have taken a pledge not to do any more memes...but I have a soft spot for Lara



1. to this day I remember the faces of the pixies I saw in the outhouse of the cottage we stayed at in Wales when I was very small. There were 3 of them - they are not the same ones who lived behind the headboard in my bedroom in Gloucester.



2. I can't eat olives - I try, but I can't.



3. I like it that my husband goes away quite a lot - I feel guilty, but I love being alone for short lengths of time. I think this comes from having 9 years alone just the girls and I, it also means that he doesn't feel so bad for me while he is away.



4. I can only sleep in 2 positions, on my back or on my left side. I have to have the sheet over my exposed ear so that "the ghosts" don't whisper in my ears when I am asleep...yes I know it is stupid, but when I was 7 years old Stephen Jennings from over the road told me that's what they do...and it became a habit.



5. I have no tolerance for people who don't like garlic - I don't know why, but it just makes me want to feed them garlic to make them realise how good it is, my Granny says "it doesn't have garlic in does it?" and I say "noooooo" (fingers crossed) and she eats it and loves it, I'm kind of a benign garlic dictator.



6. I love to drive - I drive safely, but love to get out on the road and plant my foot, I can't wait to take the LandRover off-road and see what it can do, and despite my comments about Flash's car, driving it is an amazing experience. I may be gawky and clumsy on land,but when I am driving my brain and body seem to finally sync, my reflexes are razor-sharp and my reaction times are legendary - even Charlotte says "skills Mum!"



7. If Flash came home tomorrow with a job offer in Oz, I would jump at it - weird given the amount of sulking and whingeing I indulged in over the 2.5 years we were there - I love NZ, the country is spectacular, and I missed my family so much - but Australia has an attitude of success, whereas NZ has an attitude of entitlement - I am generalising greatly here, but unfortunately the welfare system in NZ is so seductive, we have inter-generational poverty and unemployment because people are so afraid to step out of the safety net. I worry about my children's future if they stay in NZ, unless there are some radical changes - as the number of people being supported by every worker is growing all the time.


I'm not picking anyone - feel free to do this meme yourself.

Friday round up

this week has been one of playing catch up and dealing with "The List" the peice of memo cube paper I carry in my handbag everywhere - not on the PDA, not in the laptop, not even in the diary...just a tiny peice of paper with writing on both sides, and finally there are more lines through errands than not.

I got the Knit Rangers blog up and running - yay!, please feel free to add it to any Stitch and Bitch lists you may have - you never know when someone is going to visit NZ and need some knitting time.

I sent Donna's present off a whole DAY before her birthday...not much solace when she lives at least 4 days post away (really have to get my act together with mail...note to self) Please go say Happy Birthday for yesterday to help make up for my tardiness.

I finally put in a claim with our health insurance only to discover that our agent gave us a good policy - but it didn't include the extras I wanted included...and the company won't backdate, as it was the agent's fault not theirs...gah!

Next job - reorganising my studio - believe it or not I still do not have enough room! I need more storage.

I re-finished this wonderful old suitcase - see the wooden strapping and brass fittings, $10 from the Sallies - ok it needed a clean, and re-lining, but now it has pride of place under the cutting table filled to overflowing with fabric and sock yarn.

the "Great Dividing bookcase" between Flash's side of the room and mine...full.

I can't show you anymore...the story is the same...full, full, full...I am taking all of the equipment boxes and putting them in the room under the stairs, maybe that will help, or maybe I should start taking over Flash's study...

It is a long weekend here - Queen's birthday (not her real birthday mind you, just her "official" birthday...what's up with that?) Flash and I are off to the rugby tomorrow night - I am practising being enthusiastic - I will be channelling my basketball watching self...GO THE BLACKS! I am also practising being a good CEO's wife, because goodness knows I don't know the first thing about actually being a good CEO's wife. I have a first aid kit containing muesli bars, water bottle, rescue remedy, panadol, my i-pod and a teeny bottle of absolut vodka - to stave off my two main "grumpy Jussi" causes - boredom and hunger...(yes the husband has banned my knitting for the evening...he will pay...actually I do have to laugh reading that sentence because the husband would never, ever say "I ban your knitting" he actually just suggested that it would not be appropriate...on the phone...from another country.

I have also started releasing Frasier into the wild for a couple of hours each day - so scarey for us, so wonderful for him... we had planned for him to be an indoor cat, but he has different ideas, we were worried about him being run over, even though the road is pretty quiet, and catching native birds ( he has 2 bells to stop this happening) and getting lost (collar with name and phone number) he is so happy chasing Layla all over the garden, climbing trees, chasing grass, and then he pops back inside and is so affectionate - as though he is saying "Thank you for letting me go outside". Here is a cheesy pic of the boy - I think it is how he would look in a school photo!

Yarn Pr0n

I have put a bit of handpainted yarn up for sale on my "Specials" page, we'll see how it goes, I may make it a regular event.

The yarn is a superwash NZ merino wool, it has been dyed with standard acid dye, and can be machine washed on a wool setting (preferably alone - just in case some dye residue escapes) It is a light DK/sport weight knitting up at 24 sts x 32 rows over 10cm on 3.5mm needles. The skeins are 50g each, let me know if you want a skein or centre pull ball.

$10.00 NZ each plus postage

Secrets

I've been busy lately - I'm not complaining, busy means working and working means money and money means that we can get our Waihi house back to being a holiday home by Christmas, it means spending (ok - yarn) money for France. Every day for the past 3 weeks I have either had an order to fill (which comes first) or have been knitting for the market,I had designated saturday as "finishing day" - sewing in ends, checking everything is perfect, sewing on buttons, sewing up remaining garments etc - I knew it was going to take all day, but Flash was happily taking the car for a warrant, cleaning the pool, all that arh arh stuff, Blaise was enjoying events at the Writers festival , and Charlotte and Maria were off doing what they do, so I was looking forward to pottering around in my studio for the day.

Enter distraction #1

Holly (my eldest - studying wine in Christchurch)

popped up on friday night for a quick "hello" - I haven't seen her since March, and miss her terribly, we had dinner at Mum's on friday night to catch up, and she stayed with us on saturday.

Where she was joined by distraction #2

Our dearest friend Jason, Holly's Godfather, mine of information and all around good guy - flying visit to Auckland to film a commercial -

for that little pill that starts with "V" and ends with "agra" - I fell to weeping with hysterical laughter, after realising that one of my contemporaries was advertising a drug for middle-aged men, are we middle-aged Jase? is this what it has come to?we had such big dreams - and now here I am 2 cars, a mortgage and some cats!

So my dilemma, 2 delightful people to talk to...and ALL THIS WORK! Holls went out with a friend, and I dragged Jase upstairs, so that I could work and he could trawl the internet looking for a date for the night - seriously this man needs a wife! anyone know any nice single girls in Sydney?
That just sounded worse than it was...anyway Flash dragged him off to stand around the BBQ and drink beer, it was so great to catch up, we have missed him terribly, he is a part of the family and the kids adore him.

Blaise heard of his arrival and raced home between engagements.

I worked until 2am, then woke at 6 and finished the last bits, arriving at the market at 9 am, Holls helped for the first hour before going home (sniff, but she will be home again soon) and Mum and Flash took over from 1pm so that I could go to knitting - we sold a lot of yarn and gave away heaps of patterns and business cards, I came home to an order immediately and 3 queries, so as a marketing tool it is looking good.

here is the garment I alluded to before - this is the jacket in a size 2
the yarn is a DK weight merino, organically grown, but not organically spun, the handle and lustre are a dream, it holds the pattern so well, crisp and chunky, the buttons are from Mission Falls and work so well with the undyed yarn, the hearts are dyed wood and the round carved buttons are henna dyed bone.these will be available on the website from this afternoon.

knit rangers

are go from 2pm this afternoon at The Packing Shed 99 Parrs Cross Road Oratia, I have the luxury markets this morning ( wish me luck) but will be relieved in plenty of time to get to the cafe.

see you there!

Friday round up

lots of wool in waiting for sunday

I keep forgetting to tell you all about my wee garden, I want to show you a "before and after" shot, but can't find a "before" so you'll have to be happy with the "after". We have mini caulis, broccoli, spinach, rainbow chard, baby beetroot, leeks and baby radishes, all organic and spray free due to the wandering neighbourhood ducks who give the garden a going over every morning...slug and snails beware! In another corner of this handkerchief sized garden we have a herb garden groaning under coriander and italian parsely, theres lemon grass, chilis, every kind of thyme, chive and basil, marjoram, mints and thai basil - then theres catnip, catmint and cat grass and another wee bed with the dyeing plants...and then there are the fruit trees...but I'll leave them for another day!

The knitting is going well, I have something so cute to show you, but not yet...I want it to be perfect first.

Masters

What a wicked look! Our boy is certainly getting big.

Holly - thank you darling for reminding me! Fanny is from France and is studying wine at Lincoln for a semester, she writes the most delicious blog, beautiful photos, gorgeous recipes, and delightful prose. Holly tells me that Fanny's course of study involves patisserie for a year, then cheese for a year etc, I must ask more questions, so it is a tribute to Lincoln that she has chosen to attend their wine science programme.

Speaking of food blogs - I was looking for a baked ricotta recipe recently (we are deprived I tell you!) and yowser! found my new favourite food blog! We are having the beetroot pesto spaghetti for dinner tonight, I slow roasted the beetroot to deepen the flavour, and best of all, it's vegetarian, so Blaise will be smiley!

Kaffe was wonderful, he looked no older than the last time I saw him, the hour was inspiring, and reassuring, the evocative photos of his work and inspiration, this time I took away the feeling that I am still heading in the right direction as far as my creativity goes, it wasn't the "ka-pow!" I felt last time I listened to him, more a comforting knowledge that what he does is right for him, and what i do is right for me. Brandon Mably was there, which I hadn't expected, gah! if I had known I would have taken my book to be signed, but as it was they were swamped with quilters at the book signing! To answer that question...I love his fabric designs, but I doubt I will ever take up quilting! I also did not get any photos, being the diffident kiwi girl I am I thought cameras would not be welcome - slap my hand!

monday make up

for missed Friday round up!

I am afraid that there is not much to report, truth be told I have been head down knitting like a bandit for the market which is this sunday from 10 - 3, and trying to work out the logistics as Blaise has a number of lectures to attend and I have Knit Rangers at 2pm.

I have finally managed to knit up a few of the garments I had written patterns for, and modifications have been made, which in turn have led to new scribbles and sketches which are patiently waiting for me to have 2 minutes free time in which to do something more concrete with them.

As an aside, I am skiving off for a couple of hours tomorrow night to see the Great One, Kaffe Fassett is giving a talk on his quilts and fabric range at my old grammar school, and my Mama scored a ticket for me - wheee! The last time I saw him he was the Master of Knitting, and I was awestruck, I was inspired to knit this wee waistcoat for Charlotte who was 0ne at the time I used the "magic ball" method of tying lengths of different colours together, for this one I had a bright colours ball, and a light colours ball, the brights are the background and the lights are brought through every few stiches to knit 1 st, and then carried at the back, the squares are made using the intarsia method - that was 17 years ago, Kaffe and I have probably both changed somewhat.

21

skeins of yarn, dried and reskeined - Blaise's new day, and "sing the blues" Blaisie does think it's a waste of time balling the yarn up and reskeining it, but I think it shows the colours better when they are offset.

Apologies for yesterday, I ended up having a lovely day, and Charlotte did apologise to me for not being nice earlier in the day. Flash, Blaise and I went to The packing shed for afternoon tea and met my Mum and grandparents, who have just returned from a trip to Sydney (sob). Helen turned up despite the throngs and we had a nice wee knitting group after the rellies left,(sorry Knitting and Writing group - Blaise brings her laptop and pounds away on her book) I was worried that the cafe staff would be a bit grumpy at us for taking up table space on the busiest day of the year, but they weren't at all, and when they started closing doors, we made movements to pack up and were told "No, stay, we're just trying to keep people out!" I do love the ambience of the place.

Last night we finally had the lamb - I could sing about that lamb! and a nice bottle of wine (no Champagne cocktails - with it being a work night!) and cuddled up on the couch in front of a roaring fire to watch Top Gear, a very nice end to a mostly lovely day.

And thanks for the words of support guys, I wouldn't usually air my dirty laundry on the blog but I was SO CROSS! and now you can see that it isn't all wine and roses at our house. I know they will come through the other side, but I had actually thought we were through the worst of it - they are trying out their independence just like any young animal.

For Lara: la la la everything is lovely, my children are sweet angels who float around on clouds looking for ways to make me happy, they do not yell, or makes messes, they do not leave fingermarks all over the walls, doors and refrigerator - leading me to believe that the Vegemite glands in their hands did not dry up when they started school, they think about others, clean the shower after they have used it and their bedrooms look like an IKEA catalogue. (they also go and pick up my Valium refills weekly) la la la! but seriously - you've met them, they are sassy and pretty cool, there are going to be off weeks, that's why babies are so cute - to sustain you through the tough times. I have a photo of mine when they were little pinned to my wall above the computer, when they were little I promised them that I would try to be understanding when they grew up - that time is now, and I have to work at it everyday.I wouldn't swap them for the world.

ticking off the list

Yarn skeined, dyed and re-ordered - done and drying in the shade

Particularly loving Blaise's input, with a colourway called "Brand new day" - light blues, pale pinks, cream and gold with a touch of indigo to represent the edge of dawn.

Custom order, which has entailed much more work than anticipated, scaling patterns up in size is not easy for littlies, their shape and ratios change so much.I am very happy with the final result in a silk/merino blend.

wonderful surprise gift of vintage buttons from Shan I particularly love the green ones, thank you so much, Auckland isn't a complete button free zone, but it's pretty much a beautiful button free zone!

Flash is home (a day late, and more than a dollar short - I got Moet for Mothers Day, there's Cointreau and sugar cubes in the pantry - think we'll have a champagne cocktail before the lamb which has now been marinating for 2 days.)

He enjoyed Shanghai - think I should start learning Chinese? Do they have yarn there?

Some 18 year old girls - gggrrrrr, I suddenly realised that Maria and Charlotte are actually our first 18 year olds to live with us full time, Holly was living with my parents while studying at Uni, and Melanie had left to work fulltime and was living with her Mum. They are horrid - society, tv, magazines all tell them that they are "adults" so they think they have all sorts of "rights" and we have 2 of them - backing each other up constantly and treating the house like a hotel, I found Blaise folding 8 loads of washing last night, while the other 2 watched t.v. - she said it was easier just to get on and do it than to listen to their whingeing if she asked them to help, they disappear when there are jobs to do, but are first in line for dinner or pocket money, they argue about curfews and we are "SO MEAN".

Draconian measures are called for.

I hate to end on such a ickky note - especially on Mother's Day, and I know that I am just having a reaction to a week of trying to parent these two in particular alone, they have gone out with their boyfriends, I did manage to get a Happy Mother's Day out of Charlotte, and will spend a happy afternoon with Flash, Blaise, my Mum, my Gran, and then knitting group, the day is warm, the sun is shining.

Friday round up

• Friday morning has dawned bright and sunny in the Waitakere Ranges, it is slightly crisp out, and the car was covered in deep crimson Liquidamber leaves.
  
• I am happy this morning, for many reasons, the first of which being obvious - it's Friday!
  
• - I washed the Pinwheel Beanie to see how the wool and dye held up, and am pleased (and relieved ) to report that on the "wool" cycle of the washing machine (warm gentle wash, cool rinse, medium spin) the beanie came it looking the same as when it went in. I was , as always, very scientific in my technique, which consisted of drawing around the pre-wash beanie, and taking numerous photos in controlled lighting, when it was washed I placed it back on the template to measure shrinkage (none) and took more photos to compare dye loss ( slight to none) I have changed my dye routine slightly, to prepare the yarn more thoroughly, I now soak it for an hour, and then place it in a plastic bag in the dark for a day or two, apparently this opens the yarn up even more - very important as this superwash yarn, which is notorious for not taking the dye, we've all seen superwash (often sock) yarn which looks patchy, or the core is still white (I don't mean yarn like Opal which is printed) I always think this kind of dye job looks temporary.after
  
• David Bain's convictions have been overturned by the Privy Council - yes folks a group of Lords in London get the last say in the New Zealand judicial system - and for once I am glad that they do (not for much longer). I don't know if David is guilty or innocent - I would like to think the latter, but what I do know is that there is more than reasonable doubt, and much evidence tampering. Everytime I have heard of him over the years I have though about this gangly kid who returned home from an early morning paper round to find his family dead, and then being charged and imprisoned for their murders...all this, 12 long years in prison, fighting constantly to clear his name, and if he does get released early next week - he is still just a young man whose whole family are dead.

• Knit Rangers this Sunday, 2pm at The Packing Shed, 99 Parrs Cross Road. As it is Mothers Day I know that a number of people won't be there, but come along if you want to join in a small group ( that said my Mother and GrandMother will be there!)

• Said Mother visted Melbourne last week for the Climate Change conference...(read great chance for a bunch of greenies to jet into Melbourne for some shopping - not much reduction in global warming there!) ~cynic~ aaaaaanyhow, I noted a spike in orders from Melbourne - hmmmm thought I - must be word of mouth - yeah my Mama's mouth! she left my business cards in the baby change room of the Koru Club, tucked into parenting magazines in cafes, and handed them out to shop keepers in return for buying up large at their stores, with family like this who needs an agent?
• I have taken a boneless leg of lamb out of the freezer (bought from Clark's Organic butchery on West Coast rd - scroll down) tonight I will marinate it in oil, garlic and fresh lemon peel, then tomorrow I will cut little pockets under the skin and stuff them with garli, oil and rosemary, force a whole lot into the whole where the bone was, run a knitfe under the skin and shove in as much fresh oregano and lemon peel as I can, and Flash will rotisserie it on the BBQ until it is crisp on the outside, pink on the inside and melting. Add capsicum, eggplant and zucchini bbq roasted wih balsamic vinegar, homemade bread and a nice bottle of duty free red, catch up time with Flash, chatting under the patio heaters...Bliss.

yep

Flash is in China this week - it suddenly dawned on me (I am not a MOTO - master of the obvious) every year he is overseas at a big conference at the same time as our anniversary - oh, maybe theres a link there (I'm usually pretty cluey) maybe they have the conference at the same time every year - yeah ? you think? I'm the Mum who doesn't know when report night is, oh jeepers is it the holidays again? and you would think that Christmas moves around like Easter the way it surprises me every year.

I have already blocked out the calender for this time next year, and put a reminder in in 6 months time - to find out where it is going to be and book to go too, wherever it is I'll have fun sightseeing while Flash works and we'll finally be together on the day.

Here's a photo from the man himself - seriously, when it comes to photography he has a gift.

not for lighting, composition or design - but for comedy.

Pinwheel beanie

Yarn: Just Jussi light DK 1 skein (light worsted) (100 m/y = 50 grams (2 oz)
Needles: 3.5 mm dpns
gauge approx: 22 sts = 10cm
Tapestry needle for sewing up.
Fits up to 6 (12) months size baby
Cast on 66 (72) sts
Work 10 (12) rows 2x1 (2x2) rib
Work 30 (40) rows stst
Start pinwheel decreases;
Next row: Knit 4, k2tog repeat to end
Knit 1 row
Next row: Knit 3, k2tog repeat to end
Knit 1 row
Next row: Knit 2, k2tog repeat to end
Knit 1 row
Next row: Knit 1, k2tog repeat to end
Knit 1 row
Next row: K2tog repeat to end
thread yarn through sts and fasten off.

This is one of the patterns which will be free on the label of my "Bushbaby" handpainted yarn which I will be selling at the Luxury market, at the moment I am just looking at 50g (2 oz) of the light DK weight, which is enough to make a beanie, bootees or a body warmer. I am working on an adult sock pattern to go with a 100g skein.

Friday round up

Dyeing is not the simple process that it was in Camperdown, with it's huge granite benchtop, and endless bright (retina destroying) light, here it is a small kitchen and formica (?) benchtops, still as long as there is a sink and a microwave we're in business.

"Liquidamber"

I have never seen a superwash wool take the colour like this merino from Tai Tapu, I'll be phoning for more in the morning. It is a light worsted/dk weight and still has that beautiful sheen through the colours.

"Iris"

This yarn is destined for my stall at The Luxury Markets at Auckland's Stamford Plaza hotel on May 27th, I will be selling the yarn and giving away some basic patterns - a baby beanie, a vest, maybe baby socks, so that the customers don't just walk off with 50grams of wool they will look at but never use (or they can just look at it - I don't mind!)

"Gloria"

Having a stall at the luxury markets was all my Mama's idea, and after we had had a wander around, spent some money and had a coffee, she dragged me off to meet the organiser - good thing too, I am terrible at doing things like that.

"I saw a red tractor in a field of lavender"

there were many beautiful items for sale, jewellery, art, candles...the tables are all set up ready and waiting, and everyone dresses up in their nice frocks.

"camo"

Flash and Mum are eager to man the stall, they are both enamoured of marketing and talking to the public, I'll stay in the background and stick to my knitting.

"smoked paprika"

these colours were a lot of fun, the colours aren't quite right on screen, but almost.

I'd like to dye more solid colours, but people rave about the "Rosamundi" colourway especially - I am tempted to call it "Favourite child" instead

"if I squashed blueberries onto white yarn..."

- If you haven't alreayd done so - go see Lara, and rejoice in her and Mark's fecundity!

- then go and congratulate Donni on the event of her 21st'st birthday

- Frasier has managed to break more precious items this week than my children have in their entire lives, I am toddler proofing the house.

- Flash is off to China on monday (our aniversary - as is traditional in our relationship, he is always overseas on our anniversary, and had a lovely time alone in Paris for our honeymoon)

a numbers game

we have a winner:

Frasier was born on the 15th of November 2006. MohairPink - email me with your postal address and the book will be in the post.

I am reading a beautiful book "The nine emotional lives of cats" Jeffrey Masson lives in Auckland, and goes for walks on the beach with his cats (he is a "dog person" too)the book is very good for counteracting those "it's just cupboard love" comments. I thought I knew a lot about cats, but have learnt so much from his gentle observations.Frasier loves me so fiercely, won't leave me alone, squawks when I leave the house, know that I am leaving by the jangling of my keys...but when I feel like a cuddle...he'll just glance at me and keep on doing whatever it is he wants to do...and now I understand why.

the latest addition to my wardrobe - the Georgia Hoodie from Threadless, how could I not? I need some knitting themed doubleknit to wear to a knitting festival - not this one I'm afraid - the only attraction is James, and lovely and talented as he is, it's too far and too much money for what it is. However I am thinking about attending this one - the machine knitting festival, there are some interesting and talented speakers attending, and some great field trips, however I really should be head down saving money for our trip in October, it's another of Flash's work trips, and regretably involves a lot of rugby - which I am trying hard to tolerate, but apparently I won't be allowed to take my knitting to the games...(we'll see about that)to make the rugby side more palatable to me (I don't really have a choice of wether or not I go...we like our lifestyle...as the boss's wife there are sacrifices I have to make) we are having 3 days in Singapore alone together (our next favourite goodtime town after Sydney)then the 10 days in Paris and the Loire Valley with 40 of Flash's customers for the Rugby world cup (the trip is called "Rugby and Romance" - we are in Paris for the rugby and the Loire Valley for the romance - from the look of the schedule the events co-ordinator obviously has romance confused with wine) then 3 days alone in England - 2 in London, and 1 in and around my home town of Gloucester for a spot of nostalgia and 2 more days in Singapore on the way home. I have had expert help putting together an itinerary, now we are just working on Flash's french (he had to call me from the Metro last time he was there, he couldn't get out! he was on his cellphone - I'm saying "sortie, sortie" poor baby!)

The blue blob update - I have reached the yoke, and have taken your advice Mary, I no longer have the chiselled collarbones required for the wide neck look, I'll be increasing the decreases to end up with something slightly more discreet, loving the calmness of the stst, something that I can't stuff up...(there have been monumental stuff ups)

Friday round up

- My dearest, middlest child turned 18 yesterday - Happy Birthday Charlotte!

- Renegade knitter strikes in Wellington!
see this news item about a mystery knitter sending wee jumpers to the local SPCA!

- the Hourglass sweater from "Last minute knitted gifts" (check the erratta here) I have modified it already, I haven't left the hem for slipstitching later, rather I picked up and knitted the cast on sts together with the hemline sts, use 1 slightly larger needle to avoid the hem "flipping" up. I love the colour of this Noro cash iroha number 87, it is the colour of the ocean in winter, perfect with my skin tone. Basically it's a blue blob, I'll post again when it gets interesting.

- my view this morning, I never ever tire of this

- remember if you want to win my hardly used copy of this book, leave a comment guessing the date Frasier was born last november, free postage and I'll pick a winner next week if no one guesses correctly.

- Knit Rangers this sunday 2-4 pm at the Packing Shed cafe 99 Parrs Cross rd Henderson, YES! it is up that gravel drive, and yes you will find parking, don't fret if it looks full, the winery gets a lot of visitors.

2 days early 5 days late

(for Friday round up - I realised I missed last week - what can I say, I broke my bottom)

- Knit Rangers - once again small but perfectly formed, 2 attendees, 2 apologies, and 4 apologies later from people who assumed that I, Jussi. would.miss.knitting.because.I.broke.my.bum

never, never, never assume.

We are meeting again this Sunday between 2- 4 pm at the Packing shed.

- I spent last week sleeping, and knitting on the Hourglass sweater, I now know just exactly how many rows of stocking stitch it takes to drive me to despair, and then round the corner into agony and regret...and it is a surprisingly low number.

- Speaking of agony and despair, I have a copy of "Friday night knitters club" which I would like out of my house, I paid good money for it, so don't want to put it out with the rubbish, the first person to tell me when I will be off crutches can have it, and like the delightful Donna, who gave me the book recycling idea, I'll even pay for the shipping. Ok, so I can't expect you all to be p-sychic, in the comments tell me when Frasier's birthday is instead, the first correct guess gets it (it's sometime in November)

- my bottom isn't really broken, I can't remember the technical terms (the 2 very wonderful physios were explaining it to me as they tag teamed me, I nodded and "yupped" a lot but was in too much pain to take it in) something in my L sacro-iliac joint has rotated, and the relevant muscle has gone into spasm, the physio is working extremely well, as are the exercises I have been given. I am back at work this week, and enjoying not sleeping all day.

- Just Jussi, is just lovely, I have decided to go with an evolving range rather than " 2 collections a year plus resort wear" I just don't design within that structure, I start with a barrage of ideas, modify and work with them, follow them to other places, then refine them, I think most are reasonably classical and prefer to work with a continuous long term range. I have worked a lot with de-structuring, and have a couple of nice garments come out of that exploration, but the thing I was really looking for, the draped, pleated neckline, is not working at a commercial level, I have acheived what I wanted, but the time it takes is unworkable, still it has led me into other directions. I have a couple of sweet tunic style dresses which I hope to have up soon, and a funnel neck sweater which is the perfect vehicle for the naturally dyed organic merino.

- If you would like a Frasier fix, go here, I am too ashamed to put this on the blog - yes, he is the "Posterboy for "pathetic"" and no he wasn't taken away from his Mummy too early.

- Finally, a big smile to my husband...background - I don't like tattoos, never wanted one, and didn't really like Flash's, but they are part of him, yadda yadda.

While escorting Blaise to the tattoo parlour to have a small ladybird etched onto her upper thigh (the thigh that grew in my womb for 8 months and 12 days, the thigh that I fed, clothed and sought medical treatment for for sixteen years - can't keep that Jewish ancestry down) anyway, that's another post.

One of the main problems I have with Flash's tats, is that two of them were done to celebrate his previous 2 weddings (yes I'm the lucky third Mrs Flash) and have his ex-wives names on them, one was acided out, the other inked over, but I can see the names, particularly the inked out one, and that bit. He has offered in the past to get a new tattoo over his heart with my name in it, I always refused as I didn't want him to have any more, it wasn't that big of a deal.

The dear man decided to share Blaise's pain, and had the offending tattoo touched up in pretty colours, and a change made - thus:

he's a keeper.

nothing

going on here, just sleeping and physio.

To update- the first GP (locum) (after telling him I couldn't walk and the pain is intense)
you have bruised your hip, here are some antibiotics for your excema (it got infected) come back if your hip is still sore in 10 days, are you sure it didn't hurt when you first fell over?

The A&E doctor - you have put your back out, why didn't the first GP give you painkillers?, I have to check the first GP didn't give you painkillers in case you are double-dipping (you crazy drug-seeking housewife) are you sure it didn't hurt when you first fell over? I don't understand why the pain would be getting worse.

The physio- you have sprained the (?) muscle in your sacro-iliac area, the more you walk the more it goes into spasm, thats why the pain has been getting worse, here is a stretch, and some massage, come back in 2 days.

guess which one I trust, and yes, the stretch is working, I am feeling a lot better, thanks for the kind wishes, I will return to knitting content shortly.

Funny cat story: Frasier has been sleeping on me the whole time I have been laid up, he looooves water, I left my makeup brushes soaking in the ensuite sink one night, and later on was awoken when a soaking wet Frasier decided to tell me how much he loved me, and was smooching up against my face and head butting me. nice.

Friday round up

So last sunday I slipped on the front step, whilst trying to close the front door, and fell straight down on my arse, I got up, dusted myself down, and carried on - after all, falling down, bumping into things, smacking my head, these are things I do on a regular basis, I am no graceful swan.

I carried on with my day, Flash and I were doing outdoor work, I built the first of two built up, no dig vegie gardens, and I am very proud of the result, my herb garden was doing so well, that I was encouraged to carry on.

Tuesday morning I felt a slight twinge in my hip during the day, but tuesday night - man! the pain was intense, if natural childbirth was a 10, this was an 8, I didn't want to go to a 24 hr clinic because experience tells me they will say "take 2 panadol and get some rest" after a 4 hour wait surrounded by puking toddlers and old men coughing up their last lung, so I went downstairs and squirmed on the couch, watching SKY with Blaise, and finally fell asleep around 3 am. Whe I awoke the next morning I grabbed some panadeine at the chemist, booked an appointment with my GP, and carried on, GP says keep taking the painkillers and come back in 10 days if still sore, meanwhile the pain has spread to my shoulder, hence the lack of blogging enthusiasm.

Flash has taken off for the warm beaches ofTahiti, and left me here to freeze, but a new toy arrived today, via Trademe, $60 for a complete print gocco kit, Blaise is excited too, this will be a great addition to her repetoire, she is taking photography this year and loving it. I also bought the book "The loving stitch" for $30 on Trademe, had been searching for it for ages, then suddenly there it was, Trademe is great, it's just like ebay 5 years ago!

The Knit Rangers are meeting again at 2pm this sunday, at the Packing Shed, 99 Parrs Cross rd, up the gravel driveway into the orchard, come along, we would love to see you.

Finally, knitting, I have been playing possum, well playing with possum (and merino and silk to be precise) the link is to the website blog,as I am too sore to keep typing, Lara I know you won't be happy, but that's the wonderful world we live in, and there are mitigating factors for the use of possum fur in NZ yarns mmmmmwah!

and final finally - see my silly kitty jumping here

Good Friday round up

One of Flash's birthday presents, it has a post, now just needs attaching;

For the cocktails at Kuleto's, gnocchi with sage butter at Cicciolina, summer evenings on the roof at Zanzibar, movies at the Dendy and Abby Dabby at the Vanguard, long walks on summer evenings and friday night blow outs.

Hand dyed merino, cochineal and brazilwood, it's not as pink as the photo, more subtle purples and deep rose. I'm thinking another skinny scarf. It's all about the fashion in this house. (gah!)

3 people from the job which must not utter it's name want to come to Knit Rangers, and the cafe have put us in this month's newsletter, this could be the start of something!

Get thee to "Nut and Bee" cute notecards and other paper goods, I got some "Pink tea" cards because they look like Frasier (if he was standing up. drinking tea and a cartoon), "where rainbows come from" for a certain girl with a unicorn addiction, and "polar pickles" for someone else. Very quick service, and a handwritten note - love it!

Last night I bought yet more pyjamas, but then while surfing I found these great Lounge Pants at Nichola's blog,so cool and comfortable, just the ticket for working at home, and not wanting the postie to see you in flannelette!

Have a good Easter

knackered

this is what I found when I came home this evening, a little boy asleep on my bed, obviously plum tuckered out from the taxing job of "protecting" my knitting. (isn't he getting big, and long, and shiny! - his coat is like velvet, short and sleek)

does anyone else have a cat who carries knitting needles around the house?

Community

I arrived at the cafe at 1.55pm, and freaked, the carpark was full, there were cars parked on the field, all of the outdoor tables were full...oh dear, oh my.

I walked up the stairs, full of trepidation, would it all be over before it began, had I made the wrong choice?

No, I had not, the staff were run off their feet, the counter was crowded, but the Packing shed itself was almost empty, I surveyed the two rooms, and chose a table for 6 in the lighter room, because I'm an optimist, ordered fruit pancakes and a chai, and sat down to knit, I am working on a soaker pattern, it is quick and easy to knit, I needed something that didn't require too much concentration.

Five minutes later Gaayathri walked in and said hi, I was so relieved, just one person was enough, and here she was! We chatted about her latest project (handwarmers from Knitty), learning to knit, where to buy yarn in NZ, dyeing, you name it, and something impressed me very much, that she too recognises the distance between knitters in NZ, and the cultural cringe that is still very much in existence in this country, that knitting is something that "Mums and Nanas" do, Women strived so hard for economic, social and educational independence in this country that many can't bear to see other women doing such "menial" tasks as knitting. Gaayathri is nineteen and a uni student, studying law, history and politics, wonderful, dynamic stuff, and just the kind of person we need knitting in public in NZ.

Jo runs the cafe, and has a huge knitty history, we couldn't have felt more welcome, she has so many contacts and ideas that I know that this group is going to be a success, the space is so conducive to creativity, and as Gaayathri said "it's really funky", there are two main areas, both full of art and craft, and wonderful paintings of the nearby beaches and landscapes.

We turned out to be the only ones today, others had transport concerns, hopefully noone turned up, looked at the packed garden and turned tail. Today was definitely a case of small beginnings, but big possibilities.

And we'll be there again on the 15th of April, between 2 and 4pm

Friday round up

• The view from my workroom window this morning, Titirangi means "fringe of heaven" in Maori, because of the fog - they say that it's it's where heaven touches earth.

I suppose I should call it "the studio" sounds more professional than "the workroom" we'll see if I can maintain the word. We are loving this room, we have divided it by building a half wall from IKEA Billy bookcases - so there are bookcases on both sides, Flash has a lovely old desk in one corner for his home office, and the entertaining corner is on his side also, as is the wireless router, so that's where Blaise sits as her laptop does not have wireless, my side is all business! I love the evenings when the three of us sit up here together, gentle breezes wafting through the open doors, chatting and listening to podcasts or music as we work away individually, it's very productive.

• Flash's birthday was on monday - everyone has taken the "I want the patio to look like Mexican cantina" comment to heart, he was overwhelmed with old tin signs and light garlands - I bought him a set of traffic lights, and something else which I will show photos of this weekend.

• The Knit Rangers are away! meeting this Sunday at The Packing Shed cafe between 2 and 4pm, we are going to meet fortnightly, I am really excited, I have had 3 RSVPs so far, and hope that some others just turn up on the day.

• Work is going well, this is probably the last thing I will mention about it, as the blog is public and my work is too, so it's probably a breach of the code of conduct for me to say anything, suffice is to say that I am happily "helping people" (to quote Lara) 4 hours a day, it leaves plenty of time for knitting, and is a nice social outlet.

• I know I haven't shown you any knits for a while, there have been heaps of things in the pipeline, and many have been discarded along the way, one day I may be brave enough to show you the "ideas that did not make it", I am working with some Perino at present, and it is just heavenly - yummy!

• and one for Mary-Helen (to the tune of "The gumboot song")

If it weren't for your yarn stash where would you be?

You'd be in Champion or Tapestry

and you would be very low on cash (that's penury)

if it wasn't for the stash in your cupboard

Ummmmm yeah, I'll leave it to the experts!

trans-tasman relations

Sunday evening Blaise and I braved the traffic (all 2o cars) and picked Lara up from outside Sky City, where she was loitering and spying on stranger's knitwear. Unfortunately I was unable to really show her the sights, as it was dark, but we trundled through Titirangi village, and I waved at the darkness and told her that was all dense bush, and where the twinkling lights ended was the beach.


Flash barbequed, and we managed to rustle up some vegetarian fare (not that hard because Blaise is "one of them") Lara is a delightful and entertaining guest, and we ended up blathering for hours on my workroom, drinking tea, eating Tim Tams and spoiling Frasier. The cat who would not sit still, wriggles and whinges when cuddled, finally snuggled up in Miss Lara's lap, and got very comfy thank you.

There is magic when worlds collide, Lara I know how incredibly busy your schedule has been since you arrived in NZ, and am so grateful that you demanded time out to visit us.

no if's, no buttons.

When I lived in Camperdown - buttons were not a problem, you needed a button, you went to the button shop, the lovely ladies provided assistance if necessary, and oohed and aahed over the little knitted creations regardless, very civilized.

I recently bought a cheapie cardigan made from good fabric, but with boring buttons, I decided that the cardi was a good buy (for work) and that I would just change the buttons - I had the perfect buttons in mind, hand stitched clear glass beads in concentric circles - prefect, except that I only had 5, and the cardi required 8.

Time for a trip to the button shop! oops, wrong country...search the net, search the yellowpages, no time to set up wholesale accounts, I want my buttons now! A trip to Spotlight looms ominous...they have nothing, some of the nothings cost $4.95 each! gah! I come home, despondent, and sew vintage green buttons onto my black cardi - not what I had imagined, but alright for work.

A drive with Flash yesterday, exploring the surrounding neighbourhoods, discovering the changes made in two and a half years, finds us at a bead shop, light, airy - busy...and they have buttons - hmmm, not quite to my taste, garish , plastic, theres some gold involved...and between $8 - $24 each, get out of town! The saving grace is hiding in a basket on a low table...I have tried to steer away from plastic buttons for the littlies, but these are something else - moulded plastic from Czechoslovakia, the little pictures are in relief and handpainted, snails, bears, bunnies and chicks, too cute. The price is very acceptable, and of course as we drive away I think..."I should have bought more"

I am being brave and walking up to knitters and telling them about the new group, today at the Titirangi Market I met a woman whose handmade clothing is extraordinary, she combines candlewick with knitted peices and makes the most incredible skirts (you all know how I like myself a good skirt) she gave me a list of places to try, new, vintage and antique buttons and trims are hiding in suburbia, just below the surface, I feel like I am turning the corner, that likeminded people are close by.