Repeat Performance Socks

Phew, completed the second part of the Triplicity KAL just in time for the closure of the year.  Repeat Performance socks (see here for link http://knitpurlhunter.com/kal/repeat-performance/repeat-performance-revealed/). 
I purchased 100% spun BFL from my wonderful fibre supplier Karen at http://woolznyarnz.blogspot.com/ and dyed the yarn purple (it actually turned out a burgundy colour) and ended up twist the BFL with Gutermann glitter thread (not only to give it sparkle but to also add nylon to the mix)

Flowers

I don't work in acrylics very much, in fact, I haven't really painted much of late neither.  Anyhow, after watching a Channel 31 show, I was inspired to do this painting using enamel black paint.  I had so much fun using the enamel, dribbling it over the painting and highlighting areas with bigger blobs; this type of art is very "messy" for me but enjoyable.  I found the enamel gave a dimensional effect where I used it thickly.

Christmas Advent Garland

I did it!  I kept up with a Christmas KAL which finished today.   During December, every day we received a new pattern from Frankie Brown (sorry there is no link but you can search the name on Ravelry), the end product being a countdown to Christmas (Advent Garland).

I wish everyone out there a very happy holiday season and may 2012 be filled with love and happiness for you all!

Christmas Gifts

It has been a long time between posts.  I have been busy trying to keep up with my KALs and making Christmas gifts - here is a sample of what I have made.

Firstly, some Goats Milk Soap with French Vanilla.  I must say the soap smelt nice before adding the oil, but smells even nicer (if possible) after the few drops of Vanilla were added.   This was my first attempt at making soap and I got my supplies from http://www.hobbygalaxy.com.au/soap-making.html.  Next time, when I have a little more time at hand, I will make the soap from scratch.

The next item I made was some Bath Salts with Mandarin fragrance.  Basically I used Epsom salts, colouring and Mandarin oil (pure essential oil, naturally).  Mandarin has some wonderfully beneficial properties including antiseptic, good for circulation and calming.

 

Lastly, to tie all gifts together I knitted some cotton dishcloths.  If you look closely you will see a picture of a Goat (the purpose of this is to link the Goats Milk Soap to the dishcloth).



Big Snowy Owl

This was an incredibly quick and easy project to knit up - mind you, it is EXTREMELY large.  If I was going to redo it I would use the same chunky yarn but instead of a size 12mm needle I would probably go down to a 10mm to make it a tighter knit.   Anyhow, it is sitting on my bed very alert.

Click here to check out the pattern http://www.purlbee.com/big-snowy-owl/

Vinyl

I have made many bowls and bangles from used LPs, purchased on my Opp Shop travels. After discussing various crafting ideas last night over coffee and cake, with a group of lovely ladies, thought I would share two photos. The LPs are easily heated in the oven and then moulded or cut to design.

Sunset

Went out with my photography group last night and took photos of the sunset from a field in the middle of no where. The sunset was spectacular, and magically appeared and disappeared just as fast.

Note to self - must wear sleeves next time I do a night shoot so I don't get eaten by mozzies!

Doll

I'm not one to overlook a photo opportunity, even of a small doll run over by a car!

Zombie

This is one of my favourite Zombie photos, taken two weekends ago. This Zombie was extremely tall (I'm assuming he was on stilts) but I wasn't not game to either get up close to have a look, nor ask him.

I have also entered the photo in a weekly competition found at http://www.iheartfaces.com

Art Yarn - Beehives

They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery. ..........

After spinning a skein of beehive yarn I was wondering what to do with it - I didn't think there was enough for a hat - and then I remembered seeing beehive yarn in a frame. I thought I would also try to do this - I'm sorry I can't remember where I saw it or who originally made it, to give the credit where it is due, but who ever you are rest assure I made this only for my benefit and not to sell.

Here is my beehive yarn before and displayed in the frame -

Melbourne Zombie Shuffle

Melbourne's annual Zombie Shuffle was held this weekend with hundreds of wonderful zombies and gouls lingering around the CBD. This is the fourth year it has been held and gives all creative people a chance to flaunt it, and not to mention us budding photographers another photo opportunity.

Triplicity Shawl

Another KAL - this time it consists of four items spaced (generously) over equal months.

The first KAL was the Triplicity shawlette which I have just completed (and within one day of receiving the last instruction - can you tell I am pretty pleased with myself for achieving this). I knitted the shawlette in Lincraft's Supersoft which is 50% nylon and 50% acrylic - the yarn is very soft but splits when knitting, therefore extra care is necessary.

The next three items for the KAL will be socks, mittens and more socks and details on the KAL can be found here http://knitpurlhunter.com/kal/kal-info/

Tea Cosy

It took a while (not the knitting but the sewing up) but I finally finished my mouse tea cosy by Debi Birkin http://www.debibirkin.com/. Debi has many wonderful and unique designs which are very easy to follow.

Rhubarb Muffins

I made some yummy rhubarb muffins on the weekend whcih are just right for kid's lunches. I'm not sure where the recipe came from but it has been tweaked a little and thought I would share it.

Ingredients:
500 gm plain flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
250 gm brown sugar
350 ml milk
2 eggs
3/4 bunch cooked rhubarb (cook with some sugar and touch of water)
vegetable oil (or coconut oil)

Topping:
4 tablespoons castor sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat over to 180C. Grease muffin tray with oil spray.
Sift flour and baking powder and then mix in brown sugar.
In a separate bowl mix milk with eggs and add to flour mixture.
Add rhubarb and if the mixture is a little dry add some oil so it
is cake consistency.
Spoon into muffin moulds (2/3 full) and sprinkle topping on top.
Bake for around 20-25 minutes and let cool before removing
from tray.
Makes 20-25 muffins.

Sassymetrical

A lesson in what not to do! Do not start a project unless you are 100% certain you have enough wool to finish it.

I started this mini cardigan over one year ago using Malabrigo Cotton. Unfortunately I ran out of the cotton whilst doing the last of three bands. The cotton is not available in Australia and it took me months and months to find one skein (well I actually only needed probably 1/3) to finish the cardigan. I am TOTALLY over the project and will probably never wear the cardi.

Anyhow.... it's no longer a UFO.

BTW, the pattern is Sassymetrical

New Spindle

Look what arrived in today's mail - a new Spindle! This gorgeous spindle is from Whorled Domination - I am participating in the Spindle Club so every few months I get to build up my collection. This 63gm spindle has black lacquered bamboo shaft with a 50mm Lapis Chrysocolla Whorl. It feels and looks beautiful - now to put it to the test...............

Dairing Wool and Fabric Yarn

I had tremendous fun knitting this scarf (BTW, the photo doesn't really do it justice). The "yarn" was purchased from Dairing in Richmond and consists of wool and fabric strips attached randomly together. It is another example of arm knitting and knits up very fast indeed.

There is no need to actually purchase the yarn, it would be quite simple to make yourself from at least a 12 (but preferably 20) ply yarn and strips of fabric. I may try it again in purples/greens/ blues - my favourite colour combo; but then again, how many scarves does one need?

White Swan Scarf

In a previous post I shared the wedding winter batts from Nunnaba which I spun up into fine yarn; here is the finished scarf (designed by Kit Baldassara) and spun in the merino/glitz. I love the dangly bits. My daughter modelled the scarf for the photo and decided there & then the scarf was for her :(

Creepy Cute Crochet - Queen Vampire

Continuing on from my favourite book at the moment, I'd like to introduce Queen Vampire. Don't you just love her coiffured hair and attire.

Handspun Merino/Glitz

I busily spent the last three days spinning and plying some merino/glitz batts from Nunnaba for a scarf project I have in mind http://www.etsy.com/shop/nunnaba

It is the first time I plied on my Majacraft Little Gem and it was such a smooth process - I really enjoyed it and didn't find it tedious (as I usually do when I ply).

Stayed tuned for the scarf....

Hard Core Spun Hat

This hat was spun using Southern Cross fibres as part of a SAL challenge. I spun the yarn using core spun technique and the pattern was "Hard Core Spun Hat" by Linda H ("Coollinda" on Ravelry).

Bridge of Roses Socks

I participated in another KAL and again with Knitters Brewing http://www.knittersbrewing.com/ whom I think has the best sock kits/yarn and also superb customer service.

The socks were fun to knit - I wish I could say the same as the embroidery (which I haven't done for years). The bullion roses were certainly a challenge and this is what delayed the finishing of the socks.

Creepy Cute Crochet - Nosferatu

Number 2 complete - I am really enjoying working through this book, and the items are not that large, so can be completed in one day. Unfortunately because of the contrast between (black and white) it didn't photograph too well, very overexposed.

Pendrell Dragon - Puff 2

Phew. It took a few months but I have finally completed Puff, a pattern by Wendy Chapman and Alison Dews. Whilst bobbin lace is not new to me, fillings are - and this has a number of fillings including simple spider and tallies, 8 thread armure and plaits. I worked it in silk which gives it a lovely sheen.

In the future I think I will make a different Dragon so there is a pair.

Creepy Cute Crochet - Devil

I am in love! At a recent lace meeting a lady introduced me to a book she had worked through called "Creepy Cute Crochet" - I fell in love and just had to get the book; whilst I had every intention to make the items I could contently sit there and just oodle the pages http://www.amazon.com/Creepy-Cute-Crochet-Christen-Haden/dp/1594742324

I have set myself a personal goal to work through the book at make the little creatures, from beginning to end, starting with The Devil.

Art Yarns - Coils and Beehives

Purchased some specifically dyed fibre from Kathy at http://www.kathysfibres.com/ in order to have a play with beehives and coils. Here is my first attempt using this technique. I have fibre left over so intend doing some more shortly.

Hermione the Unicorn

Just completed another one of thge wonderful Dawn Toussaint's CAL's - this time I would like to introdeuce Hermione the Unicorn. This was a fun creature to crochet thanks again to Dawn's exceptional instructions http://dawntoussaint.blogspot.com/2011/08/september-cal-hermione-unicorn.html.

Wildlife Photography

Recently I participated in a Wildlife Masterclass with Sarah Louise) you can see some of her amazing shots at http://www.sarahlouisephotography.com.au/).

We visited the Ballarat Wildlife Park http://wildlifepark.com.au/ and besides taking hundreds of photos we picked up some tips along the way. I experimented with photography through glass panes and it seemed to have worked, I took very few photos with reflection.

Crochet Ripple Quilt

I finally completed the crochet ripple quilt which was started last year. Acrylic was used to make this Lucy of Attic24 quilt; a very easy pattern, just a lot and lot of rows to make a decent sized rug.

Knitted Hat

Finally made something out of the handspun Corriedale yarn. Here is a knitted hat using DROPS 85-12 pattern nib. I modified the hat closure as I didn't particularly like the DROPS top and preferred a rounder finish.

Curly Scarf

These types of scarves are the latest trend with knitters. The yarn I used was Panda Sashay which is a polyester blend (basically it's got netting on one side and a more dense binding

which is used for the curling effect) - the Panda wool has glitter in this binding. Rather than knitting this yarn, I wanted a curlier effect so I used double crochet in the netting.

Cropped Vest

Here is a little vest I just finished knitting using a variety of yarns (I cheated, I bought the various yarns together in one yarn! - if that makes sense). I wanted a neutral vest to wear over long sleeve tshirts, hence I knitted this vest to my own pattern (which of course I didn' think to write down).

Carrickmacross Lace

I attended a one day Carrickmacross workshop at our Lace Guild quite a while ago and here is my second piece, mounted on a Torchon lace mat. I really enjoy making Carrickmacross and have an excellent instruction book by Mary Shields which guides me all the way.

A Series of Reflection

On a recent visit to Echuca, on the Murray River, I decided to do a series called "Reflection". It was a beautiful cold and crisp morning with the sun shining. The river was still and the reflections breathtaking. Here are a few of the many photos I took (aperature priority, no tripod necessary)