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Welcome to the world little Kaedence (!) I hope these will keep you warm and toasty!!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
How much is a Billion?
A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
Makes you think, doesn't it???
B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
Makes you think, doesn't it???
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Cuteness Overload
OMG, have you ever seen anything so cute???
Knitted as a gift for someone I have never met! Hope she likes it!!
(The pattern is L'il Tux for Baby by Judy Lamb - from Ravelry)
Knitted as a gift for someone I have never met! Hope she likes it!!
(The pattern is L'il Tux for Baby by Judy Lamb - from Ravelry)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
A Zebra for Debra
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My sister is c-r-a-z-y for zebras and asked if I would knit her a toy one. I duly obliged, even though it looks more like a warthog (according to DD) or a rat (according to DH)! And of course, I had to add some zebra striped sox too!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Everybody loves a pinwheel! 'Specially cats!
Mmmm, mommy knitted me a blankie ...
Thank you
Ooooh, nice !
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you!!
Likes my new blankie
Wot??!! Not MY blankie ....!!??
Hmpf, never liked it anyway!!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Christmas was a busy time ... knittingwise
I love love love Alan Dart patterns - they are so clearly written and exact to every stitch ... if you ever get a chance - try one, you won't regret it!
I got so carried away knitting Christmas ornaments (some Alan's and some my own design) that there were too many to hang on my puny little tree, so they just congregated on the table .... next year I will make them into a wreath for the front door.
(In case you can't recognise them, they are ... cupcake, stocking, apple, gingerbread heart, candle, mouse, polar bear, Father Christmas, hat, candy cane, angel, elf, snowman, Father Christmas hat, mittens, bell, wreath, cracker)
I got so carried away knitting Christmas ornaments (some Alan's and some my own design) that there were too many to hang on my puny little tree, so they just congregated on the table .... next year I will make them into a wreath for the front door.
(In case you can't recognise them, they are ... cupcake, stocking, apple, gingerbread heart, candle, mouse, polar bear, Father Christmas, hat, candy cane, angel, elf, snowman, Father Christmas hat, mittens, bell, wreath, cracker)
Sunday, January 11, 2009
So, what did I knit this time??
My dh is no longer shocked when he asks me "What are you knitting, dear?" He is used to getting weird answers, like "A penis purse" or "A yak". So this time, when he asked THE question, he barely raised an eyebrow when I answered "A prawn". Yup, a prawn ... well, sushi with a prawn on top, actually!! For dd who is obsessed with all things Japanese at the moment, especially sushi. So, for Christmas I got her all the doodads that one needs to make one's own sushi and packed them into ..... a knitted sushi bag!!
Her response on opening the present was fantastic ... She looked at it blankly, looked at me .... looked back at the gift ... and as it dawned on her what it was, started yelling ... oh my god, oh my god, OH my god, oh MY god, oh oh oh oh my god! It was hysterical to watch and soooo worth the effort of knitting it!
So, this is what we ate for starters on Christmas day ....
Her response on opening the present was fantastic ... She looked at it blankly, looked at me .... looked back at the gift ... and as it dawned on her what it was, started yelling ... oh my god, oh my god, OH my god, oh MY god, oh oh oh oh my god! It was hysterical to watch and soooo worth the effort of knitting it!
So, this is what we ate for starters on Christmas day ....
Thursday, December 25, 2008
The 3 Stooges and Mini Me's
The title says it all!!
Me with my two closest friends in Abu Dhabi ....
And our Mini Me's
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Gifts from Canada
Anne (in Canada) and I did a pesonal swap and these are the lovely goodies she sent to me ....
The yarn has already been rewound and is being converted into knee-high socks as I write ....
...and I officially declare myself "The World's Best Worst Photographer!"
I SUCK!!
The yarn has already been rewound and is being converted into knee-high socks as I write ....
...and I officially declare myself "The World's Best Worst Photographer!"
I SUCK!!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Words to live by ...
I have had this for a-g-e-s, suddenly today, I had an urge to post it ... don't know why ... maybe somebody, somewhere needs to hear these words .......
Ready or not, some day, it will come to an end.
There will be no more surprises: no more minutes, hours or days.
All things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass on to some else.
Your wealth, fame, and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.
It will not matter what you owed or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.
So, too, will your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists.
The wins and losses, that once seemed so important, will fade away.
At the end, it won’t matter where you were born or what side of the tracks you lived.
It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.
Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.
So, what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built…
Not what you got but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered, or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people knew you, but how many people will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.
What will matter are not your memories, but the memories that live on in those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom, and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstances but of choice.
Are you choosing a life that matters?
Ready or not, some day, it will come to an end.
There will be no more surprises: no more minutes, hours or days.
All things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass on to some else.
Your wealth, fame, and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.
It will not matter what you owed or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.
So, too, will your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists.
The wins and losses, that once seemed so important, will fade away.
At the end, it won’t matter where you were born or what side of the tracks you lived.
It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.
Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.
So, what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built…
Not what you got but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered, or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people knew you, but how many people will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.
What will matter are not your memories, but the memories that live on in those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom, and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstances but of choice.
Are you choosing a life that matters?
Monday, December 1, 2008
I looove my sister ....*
Friday, November 28, 2008
The Birth ...
The Woman said "I don't know if I am ready for this, I don't know how to".
Some women agreed that it would be very difficult and painful, almost impossible. Others disagreed and said "Take our advice, it will be so easy you will want to make many".
The Husband told her "Just remember, I can't help, you are on your own".
She read many books to get courage, she felt sick – but knew this would pass. She had had so many miscarriages and abortions in the past, would it be ok this time?
Finally it was time, she closed her eyes and knew there was no turning back. She began to panic, her husband reminded her to breathe deeply and concentrate. She laboured for many hours, people stopped by and asked how it was going, but nobody could do it for her.
Finally when the last cord was cut, she leaned back and said "I have done it".
She proudly displayed her creation. Friends and family crowded around to see the new addition – Most agreed that it was an ugly, misshapen thing that only the Woman could love. She told them that even deformed and unattractive things have their place and this one would always be special because it was her first.
With time, the pain and uncertainty subsided and the Woman began to think about making another one, one which she hoped would look exactly like her first …. …. And so, a sock was born! http://s170.photobucket.com/albums/u274/uysbase/?action=view¤t=1174214436.pbw
Some women agreed that it would be very difficult and painful, almost impossible. Others disagreed and said "Take our advice, it will be so easy you will want to make many".
The Husband told her "Just remember, I can't help, you are on your own".
She read many books to get courage, she felt sick – but knew this would pass. She had had so many miscarriages and abortions in the past, would it be ok this time?
Finally it was time, she closed her eyes and knew there was no turning back. She began to panic, her husband reminded her to breathe deeply and concentrate. She laboured for many hours, people stopped by and asked how it was going, but nobody could do it for her.
Finally when the last cord was cut, she leaned back and said "I have done it".
She proudly displayed her creation. Friends and family crowded around to see the new addition – Most agreed that it was an ugly, misshapen thing that only the Woman could love. She told them that even deformed and unattractive things have their place and this one would always be special because it was her first.
With time, the pain and uncertainty subsided and the Woman began to think about making another one, one which she hoped would look exactly like her first …. …. And so, a sock was born! http://s170.photobucket.com/albums/u274/uysbase/?action=view¤t=1174214436.pbw
I LOVE Opal sock yarn
I love that the yarn does all the hard work for me ... making it look like I am a "fairisle" wizard. I love that non-knitters think I changed colours every stitch, and sometimes halfway through a stitch!! Suckers!!!
PS : I swear I did not TRY to make the stripes exactly the same ... it just happened that way!
LOVE
LOVE
LOVE!!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
More neck socks ....
Version II : Using thin mohair type wool - more for show than actual warmth, but pretty nonetheless 
Version III : Made with some kind of thick fun fur wool - it turned out to be very warm and very very very soft
Version III : Made with some kind of thick fun fur wool - it turned out to be very warm and very very very soft
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
I thought I was sooooo clever ....
I got an SOS from my sister who lives in South Africa ... she was freezing in their "Arctic" winter .... well, it does get pretty cold in Cape Town.
She wanted a scarf, but I went off on a creative spree and designed a round scarf ... which can also be worn as a headscarf when she is outside in the cold and pulled down around her neck when she gets inside!
I AM BRILLIANT!! Or so I thought!
Once I had figured out (read : guessed!) how many stitches and how many rows .... I looked up "cowl" and "neck sock" and "snood" (who the hell made up THAT word?) on some knitting sites and found that many brillianter knitters had beaten me to it! Oh well, I think it turned out pretty well, and my sister loved it! So much so, that I am knitting her a few more variations ...
She wanted a scarf, but I went off on a creative spree and designed a round scarf ... which can also be worn as a headscarf when she is outside in the cold and pulled down around her neck when she gets inside!
I AM BRILLIANT!! Or so I thought!
Once I had figured out (read : guessed!) how many stitches and how many rows .... I looked up "cowl" and "neck sock" and "snood" (who the hell made up THAT word?) on some knitting sites and found that many brillianter knitters had beaten me to it! Oh well, I think it turned out pretty well, and my sister loved it! So much so, that I am knitting her a few more variations ...
Thursday, September 11, 2008
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Monday, July 21, 2008
Chemo caps
My stepmother is battling cancer and chemo has claimed her crowning glory (her hair). She has been remarkably positive, using this as her opportunity to break out of her normally dignified and staid pose. She wanted to make her hairlessness an upbeat time to be offbeat!
Of course, needles were immediately whizzing on this side of the world, and these are the results (modelled by DD)
And now I am going to cross-stitch her a little motivational sampler ....
...
NSFW (not safe for work)
...
NSFK (not safe for kiddies)
...
IFNSAA (in fact, not safe at all!)
...
Of course, needles were immediately whizzing on this side of the world, and these are the results (modelled by DD)
And now I am going to cross-stitch her a little motivational sampler ....
...
NSFW (not safe for work)
...
NSFK (not safe for kiddies)
...
IFNSAA (in fact, not safe at all!)
...
Friday, July 11, 2008
The most useful thing I have ever knitted ....
A while ago I won a couple of skeins of home-dyed yarn from Qessentia (http://qessentiak.blogspot.com).
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She comes from my home country (South Africa) and included wooden carvings of some of the wild animals that roam the streets of Johannesburg.
(No, they don't really roam the streets, but some people still believe they DO!)
The yarn was so beautiful, I decided that it had to make something very special that I would keep forever. Not a hat or a bag or anything as mundane as that ....
I searched the whole world wide web and finally decided on ... A bolster cushion!! I have never knitted one, or had one, or actually even seen one before, but got to work creating one.
Easy really..... knit a rectangle, sew to make a tube, get husband to roll section of foam from baby matress into stiff sausage (!), stuff ... the tube, tie ends.
Don't you think it looks like a giant sweet? That just makes me love it all the more!!
I can use it behind my lower back, shoulders, neck, head and even prop up my tired ankles. OH!!! I am so in love with it!!
Have a go, you won't be sorry!
And thanks again to Qessentia for dyeing such beautiful yarn - and sending it to me!! Jy is 'n ster!
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She comes from my home country (South Africa) and included wooden carvings of some of the wild animals that roam the streets of Johannesburg.
(No, they don't really roam the streets, but some people still believe they DO!)
The yarn was so beautiful, I decided that it had to make something very special that I would keep forever. Not a hat or a bag or anything as mundane as that ....
I searched the whole world wide web and finally decided on ... A bolster cushion!! I have never knitted one, or had one, or actually even seen one before, but got to work creating one.
Easy really..... knit a rectangle, sew to make a tube, get husband to roll section of foam from baby matress into stiff sausage (!), stuff ... the tube, tie ends.
Don't you think it looks like a giant sweet? That just makes me love it all the more!!
I can use it behind my lower back, shoulders, neck, head and even prop up my tired ankles. OH!!! I am so in love with it!!
Have a go, you won't be sorry!
And thanks again to Qessentia for dyeing such beautiful yarn - and sending it to me!! Jy is 'n ster!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Each one, teach one
In the spirit of passing on my knitting addiction, I taught DD the basics ... and this is what she created :
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Methinks the student will soon become the master ....
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Methinks the student will soon become the master ....
Sunday, June 1, 2008
I KNITTED A YAK!!
Well, no ... not a real yak ... let me 'splain .......
Firstly, it would be worth your while to note that I am um ... er ... rather rotund (read "really fat") with broad shoulders and an even broader butt.
Anyhoo, a family member (who does actually LIKE me!) sent me some yarn and a pattern to knit for myself ...
The yarn is very soft and huggable, BUT it is that hairy, fun fur and is a bright blue just to make matters worse!
After the coughing/laughing/snorting fit, I showed DD who declared "Mom, you would look like a YETI or a YAK in that thing!" - Hence the blog title!
I felt obliged to knit the yarn up, but opted for a throw/afghan, which Precious the Cat immediately decided was her long-lost mamma cat, snuggled into it and claimed it for herself! At least SHE doesn't look like a yak in it!
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Firstly, it would be worth your while to note that I am um ... er ... rather rotund (read "really fat") with broad shoulders and an even broader butt.
Anyhoo, a family member (who does actually LIKE me!) sent me some yarn and a pattern to knit for myself ...
The yarn is very soft and huggable, BUT it is that hairy, fun fur and is a bright blue just to make matters worse!
After the coughing/laughing/snorting fit, I showed DD who declared "Mom, you would look like a YETI or a YAK in that thing!" - Hence the blog title!
I felt obliged to knit the yarn up, but opted for a throw/afghan, which Precious the Cat immediately decided was her long-lost mamma cat, snuggled into it and claimed it for herself! At least SHE doesn't look like a yak in it!
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Saturday, May 17, 2008
And so it continues .....
I can hear you all now ... saying ... "OMG, just what is that Lulu knitting NOW???"
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Any guesses???
Well, here are the other constituent parts ...
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Aw, a teddy for my other friend "J" - couldn't give "K" the *purse* without giving "J" something too .... She wanted a Mr Bean Teddybear. I thought there would be hundreds, nay ... thousands, of patterns to choose from .... WRONG!! N-O-N-E !! So I designed one from pictures I found on the internet. DH offered to stuff it with foam - no such thing as toy stuffing available here! It grew and grew and grew as DH got more and more enthusiastic with his stuffing (*ahem*). Finally it was the size of a five-year old child. So I had to begin again with a smaller version, which I stuffed with the insides of a pillow that I inherited from the Dubai mega pillow fight (but, that's quite another story!!)
A bit more realistic, I think ...
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Any guesses???
Well, here are the other constituent parts ...
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Aw, a teddy for my other friend "J" - couldn't give "K" the *purse* without giving "J" something too .... She wanted a Mr Bean Teddybear. I thought there would be hundreds, nay ... thousands, of patterns to choose from .... WRONG!! N-O-N-E !! So I designed one from pictures I found on the internet. DH offered to stuff it with foam - no such thing as toy stuffing available here! It grew and grew and grew as DH got more and more enthusiastic with his stuffing (*ahem*). Finally it was the size of a five-year old child. So I had to begin again with a smaller version, which I stuffed with the insides of a pillow that I inherited from the Dubai mega pillow fight (but, that's quite another story!!)
A bit more realistic, I think ...
Thursday, May 15, 2008
NSFW .... A-G-A-I-N !!
...Or, How the Penis Purse became the Penis Picnic Pack ...
You all remember the Penis Purse, don't you?
W..e..l..l, SOMEBODY'S husband was mightily upset when he saw HIS WIFE knitting it - saying "People will think you modelled that midget thing on me!! OMG"
So SOMEBODY'S WIFE said "Give me the measurements YOU think it should be"
And it turned out like this :
(I am not going to take the bait and say anything about there being place for some liquid refreshment and a bag for your nuts)
As compared to the Penis Purse!
All SOMEBODY'S WIFE can say is : Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha*cough*hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
*wishful thinking*
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!
You all remember the Penis Purse, don't you?
W..e..l..l, SOMEBODY'S husband was mightily upset when he saw HIS WIFE knitting it - saying "People will think you modelled that midget thing on me!! OMG"
So SOMEBODY'S WIFE said "Give me the measurements YOU think it should be"
And it turned out like this :
(I am not going to take the bait and say anything about there being place for some liquid refreshment and a bag for your nuts)
As compared to the Penis Purse!
All SOMEBODY'S WIFE can say is : Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha*cough*hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
*wishful thinking*
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
If Thickness was a Sickness - we'd all be dead!
My very sweet knitting pal, Maryannlucy ... you remember her from previous posts, don't you? ... sent me a fab parcel the other day. And inside was a fab, fab, fab bag knitted by her very own self and felted especially for me ('cause I'm "felting-challenged", you know).
This is the bag ...
You will notice that the straps are not quite equal length ...
"Shame" said DH, "maybe she is old and did not notice they were so different" - "She's young and a very talented knitter", I SNORTED!!!
"Shame" said DD, "maybe she ran out of yarn" - "No way, MAL is a perfectionist, she made it like this ON PURPOSE", I INSISTED!!!
Maybe the long strap goes over the shoulder and the short one around your wrist ... well, only if you are a pretzel!
I KNEW THERE WAS A REASON ... I JUST HAD TO FIND OUT WHAT IT WAS ......
"Tummm da rumm dumm" *Cue the best Sherlock Holmes detective-type music
I pulled and poked and pushed ....
Nope,that's not right .....
Nor is that .....
And THEN I found it - the secret tuck .... OMG, is this not the most wonderful, clever, exceptional, unique and just plain fab bag you have ever seen?????I love it I love it I love it I love it I love it I love MARYANNLUCY.
Oh, yes .... did I tell you it is knitted in NORO!
I swear, if she wasn't already married, I would propose to her!!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Blocked - AGAIN
... also known as : You've got something stuck up your butt - oh,it's your head!
Well, they have done it again - these CLEVER clots who control everything we see and do here -
Ravelry is banned again ... it is listed as a "social site" which, of course, means everyone who logs into it is looking for depraved, degrading, disgusting, amoral, immoral kicks!
... Mind you ... there is the beanis pattern ...
*Sigh*
So, until they come to their stupid senses, this blog is my only way of communicating with the outside world ...
Well, they have done it again - these CLEVER clots who control everything we see and do here -Ravelry is banned again ... it is listed as a "social site" which, of course, means everyone who logs into it is looking for depraved, degrading, disgusting, amoral, immoral kicks!
... Mind you ... there is the beanis pattern ...
*Sigh*
So, until they come to their stupid senses, this blog is my only way of communicating with the outside world ...
Monday, May 5, 2008
All the way from the Arctic ...
Months after it was posted, I finally received a lovely swap parcel from Megera who lives in northern Canada ... this girl sent me PHOTOS of the Northern Lights over her house !! Just how COOL is that??????
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Anyway, Precious and I ripped into the parcel and out popped some gorgeous handspun yarn ... a red, then a blue, then a green ... then more yarn - fabulous variegated yarn (I knitted it, that same night, into some slipper socks) ... then more yarn - *faint* sock yarn : 2 balls of grey and 2 balls of denim blue, so soft and squishable ...
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And, in between these treasures was a stunning stained glass ornament of the Northern Lights - hung in a window, it is just breathtaking! And a real eskimo mug which is perched on top of the tv so I can admire it constantly. Then there was a packet of teas - such unusual flavours (including Labrador!!) - they have made my whole house smell divine!
Ah, I can just hear you all saying - "what a wonderful package" .... but wait, wait, there's MORE!!
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Monday, April 28, 2008
Definitely NOT SAFE FOR WORK OR KIDS ....
May I present to you ..... a gift made for my friend "K"
(because I can SO see her whipping it out to pay for something at the store)
.....
.....
NOT SAFE FOR WORK !
.....
Gives new meaning to "Shake your money-maker"
.....
Ladies and gentlemen .... the Penis Purse ! Complete with coin "sack" and note roll
And, btw, the more money you've got, the stiffer it gets!
(because I can SO see her whipping it out to pay for something at the store)
.....
.....
NOT SAFE FOR WORK !
.....
Gives new meaning to "Shake your money-maker"
.....
Ladies and gentlemen .... the Penis Purse ! Complete with coin "sack" and note roll
And, btw, the more money you've got, the stiffer it gets!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
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Sunday, March 2, 2008
Been busy ....
A month ?!?!? Has it really been A MONTH since I last posted ...omg, time sure flies when you're having fun!!
I have been having me some fun - with my knitting. I hauled out all the UFO's that have been mocking me for months ... some were frogged with glee, some were neatly repacked back in the cupboard and some were actuallllly turned into FO's!! Have a peek at these :
DD's new "butterfly" jersey - I love this colour on her, and it goes with lots of other colours.
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The yarn I bought in Italy recently is slowly becoming a shrug/shawl/jersey - based on Knitty's Convertible, but, as usual, with loads of my own modifications.
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At the moment it looks kinda like a crazy coloured butterfly ....
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I have been having me some fun - with my knitting. I hauled out all the UFO's that have been mocking me for months ... some were frogged with glee, some were neatly repacked back in the cupboard and some were actuallllly turned into FO's!! Have a peek at these :
DD's new "butterfly" jersey - I love this colour on her, and it goes with lots of other colours.
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The yarn I bought in Italy recently is slowly becoming a shrug/shawl/jersey - based on Knitty's Convertible, but, as usual, with loads of my own modifications.
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At the moment it looks kinda like a crazy coloured butterfly ....
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Monday, January 28, 2008
THE most deeevine Christmas stocking EVER!
Once again http://maryannlucy.blogspot.com/outdid herself with her Christmas parcel to me ...Don'cha wish your knit-pal was SPECIAL like mine? Don'cha?
PS : Sorry this pic is so late ... I had to search all over the computer for it ... Guess in which directory DH saved the photo ...
Christmas? No!
Daughter? No!
Knitting? No!
Abu Dhabi Scenic Places? Yes, of course!!
Men!! You just gotta love them!
PS : Sorry this pic is so late ... I had to search all over the computer for it ... Guess in which directory DH saved the photo ...
Christmas? No!
Daughter? No!
Knitting? No!
Abu Dhabi Scenic Places? Yes, of course!!
Men!! You just gotta love them!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Still hanging onto Harry
We received some blue and some silver yarn in our Harry Potter Swap (DD is a Ravenclaw after all!) I wanted to knit her something kinda magical/not-run-of-the-mill, but because (a) there was only one ball of each colour and (b) it is really thick yarn and we live in a desert ... it was difficult to imagine what to do.
But, viola, inspiration hit and this is what it said : Knit a star, knit a cushion ... wait, knit a star cushion!!
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I wanted it to be flat, not stuffed with lumpy stuffing (if you get what I mean ....) So I bought a crib matress and cut it to fit. I edged it with black sparkly thread crocheted all around (well, it IS a star, it has GOT to have a bit of sparkle!)
Of course, madam Princess had to inspect it first, but luckily she approved.
It really turned out well, DD sits on it, lies on it, props it behind her back, cuddles with it, uses it as a bed accessory, and just basically lurves it!
Pixieriot also sent us the Charmed Knits book and the embroidery yarn recommended by them to knit a bookmark ... so I knitted it too ...
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Let it be noted here and now that this is the VERY very very first time I have actually knitted a pattern EXACTLY as written and with EXACTLY the recommended yarn!!
(Big step for me!!) ... For goodness sake, I even cut the bloody fringes EXACTLY the length the book said!
But, viola, inspiration hit and this is what it said : Knit a star, knit a cushion ... wait, knit a star cushion!!
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I wanted it to be flat, not stuffed with lumpy stuffing (if you get what I mean ....) So I bought a crib matress and cut it to fit. I edged it with black sparkly thread crocheted all around (well, it IS a star, it has GOT to have a bit of sparkle!)
Of course, madam Princess had to inspect it first, but luckily she approved.
It really turned out well, DD sits on it, lies on it, props it behind her back, cuddles with it, uses it as a bed accessory, and just basically lurves it!
Pixieriot also sent us the Charmed Knits book and the embroidery yarn recommended by them to knit a bookmark ... so I knitted it too ...
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Let it be noted here and now that this is the VERY very very first time I have actually knitted a pattern EXACTLY as written and with EXACTLY the recommended yarn!!
(Big step for me!!) ... For goodness sake, I even cut the bloody fringes EXACTLY the length the book said!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Knitting for others (Part 3)
Less religious than me, you cannot get
And MORE religious than my sister, you cannot get
Explain THAT if you can!
Sis loves anything with a religious overtone, so, based on the prayer-afghan which I saw on this blog : http://hissyknit.blogspot.com/
We have the prayer bookmark ....
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And MORE religious than my sister, you cannot get
Explain THAT if you can!
Sis loves anything with a religious overtone, so, based on the prayer-afghan which I saw on this blog : http://hissyknit.blogspot.com/
We have the prayer bookmark ....
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Knitting for others (Part 2)
Ah, baby knitting is so much fun ... but, unfortunately, I don't have any babies to knit for ... or I DIDN'T! Now I am knitting for premature and stillborn babies in hospital (organised by a Knitty Knitter : http://christophersdonations.blogspot.com/ )
It's like doll knitting - but I guess, they ARE little dolls, aren't they? Bless them!
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It's like doll knitting - but I guess, they ARE little dolls, aren't they? Bless them!
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Knitting for others (Part 1)
I love knitting (in case you didn't know!) but I don't really love wearing stuff that I have knitted for myself ... don't know why, but I seldom knit for myself. So, with that in mind, and now that DD can knit for herself, I am on a charity knitting binge. My first efforts were for injured soldiers in hospitals in America (requested by a fellow Ravelry knitter : http://knitplaywithfire.wordpress.com/small-comforts/ )
I don't have much yarn in my stash and there is none available here in the UAE, but I used what I had and these are what I managed to create :
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Unfortunately, weeks after being posted, the package was returned to me - in a "slightly dishevelled" state .... note to self : Don't post parcels over Christmas, unless they are FOR Christmas! So, I shall re-post it (and re-pay the Dh150 ... aka 285 Rands ... aka 40Dollars!!) ~Sigh~ Well, I hope when it finally gets there, they like them and can use them!
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I don't have much yarn in my stash and there is none available here in the UAE, but I used what I had and these are what I managed to create :
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Unfortunately, weeks after being posted, the package was returned to me - in a "slightly dishevelled" state .... note to self : Don't post parcels over Christmas, unless they are FOR Christmas! So, I shall re-post it (and re-pay the Dh150 ... aka 285 Rands ... aka 40Dollars!!) ~Sigh~ Well, I hope when it finally gets there, they like them and can use them!
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Thursday, December 13, 2007
My Big Fat Greek Socks
So ... yeah ... DD went on her very first "alone" trip - no Mommy and Daddy (although, Grandad and Grandma were with her). And the place they chose to visit - the Greek Islands ... well, nobody said DD had cheap tastes!!
I wanted a small part of me to be with her, so I secretly knitted her some socks with the Greek flag on them. She got to unwrap them on the plane en route to Athens. I am so glad I did them because apparently she was a bit homesick (missing Momma) the first couple of days and hugging and snuggling the socks helped!! Awwww!
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I wanted a small part of me to be with her, so I secretly knitted her some socks with the Greek flag on them. She got to unwrap them on the plane en route to Athens. I am so glad I did them because apparently she was a bit homesick (missing Momma) the first couple of days and hugging and snuggling the socks helped!! Awwww!
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Saturday, November 10, 2007
Some UFO's came to settle in my home ....
Sometimes, when I read through my blog, I wonder to myself ... do you ACTUALLY do any knitting? Or do you just waffle all day? Well, Yes, I do occasionally knit - mostly then frog, then knit again, then frog again ... now you understand why there are so few FO pics!! But every now and then I do finish something ... Like this :
A friend sent me some Sari yarn to try - it was a small ball and therefore, it became this .... A sweater for my cellphone!! (Which often complains of the cold!)
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But, I just gotta say, although it is pretty yarn, it is a f**king bugger to knit with : it is lumpy and bumpy and twists and coils around itself -
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In other words, it is just plain crappy!
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But at least my little cellphone is as snug as a .... well, as a cellphone in a sweater!
A friend sent me some Sari yarn to try - it was a small ball and therefore, it became this .... A sweater for my cellphone!! (Which often complains of the cold!)
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But, I just gotta say, although it is pretty yarn, it is a f**king bugger to knit with : it is lumpy and bumpy and twists and coils around itself -
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In other words, it is just plain crappy!
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But at least my little cellphone is as snug as a .... well, as a cellphone in a sweater!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
So, what about the wool/yarn then???
In anticipation of the millions of wool shops and mounds of yarn, I actually took an EMPTY suitcase which I intended to fill to the brim with wool and knitting needles from Italy......
Number of wool shops found : NONE
Number of shaken (shook?!) heads when asking for wool shops : MANY
Number of small haberdashery shops with one small basket of wool : ONE
Number of balls of wool from basket purchased and brought home : TEN
(TEN!! Ten frigging balls of wool in the whole of Italy - and no choice of colours or types - just TEN BALLS!!)
But, I was so excited after two weeks of total withdrawal to finally find the shop with the wool, that I grabbed every ball they had in the basket.
Saleslady to me : "You no can take-a all the wool-a"
Me to saleslady : "Oh yes-a I can-a"
Saleslady : "NAW, leave for nother signora"
Me : "F**k nother signora, I want it ALL"
Saleslady : "NAW!!!!!!! macaronispaggettiraviollitagliatelli* (*unintelligible stream of Italian)"
Me : Grabbing handsful of wool "Give me this NOW"
Saleslady : "Half-a now, half-a tomorrow"
Me : "W-T-F????"
Saleslady : "Mama Mia ....!!!"
Me : "Mama flipping MIA ....!!!"
So, I bought half the balls then, and had to make a return trip the next day to buy the rest - which, lucky for the saleslady, was still there!!
And this is what all the fuss was about (there are 4 balls of the reddish ones) :
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Oh yes, and the ONE pair of double pointed needles they had - twice as long as normal - I am not sure if I will ever actually USE them, but I HAD to have them too!!
Number of wool shops found : NONE
Number of shaken (shook?!) heads when asking for wool shops : MANY
Number of small haberdashery shops with one small basket of wool : ONE
Number of balls of wool from basket purchased and brought home : TEN
(TEN!! Ten frigging balls of wool in the whole of Italy - and no choice of colours or types - just TEN BALLS!!)
But, I was so excited after two weeks of total withdrawal to finally find the shop with the wool, that I grabbed every ball they had in the basket.
Saleslady to me : "You no can take-a all the wool-a"
Me to saleslady : "Oh yes-a I can-a"
Saleslady : "NAW, leave for nother signora"
Me : "F**k nother signora, I want it ALL"
Saleslady : "NAW!!!!!!! macaronispaggettiraviollitagliatelli* (*unintelligible stream of Italian)"
Me : Grabbing handsful of wool "Give me this NOW"
Saleslady : "Half-a now, half-a tomorrow"
Me : "W-T-F????"
Saleslady : "Mama Mia ....!!!"
Me : "Mama flipping MIA ....!!!"
So, I bought half the balls then, and had to make a return trip the next day to buy the rest - which, lucky for the saleslady, was still there!!
And this is what all the fuss was about (there are 4 balls of the reddish ones) :
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Oh yes, and the ONE pair of double pointed needles they had - twice as long as normal - I am not sure if I will ever actually USE them, but I HAD to have them too!!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Oh alright then ......
There WERE some slightly younger, slightly sexier, slightly yummier Eye Tal Eons. In fact, there were MEN IN TIGHTS even ....
However, when they whipped out their flagpoles (yep, that's what I said!!) and started waving them around for the audience to admire ......
We began to feel nervous and wonder about them ....
.... and THEN .... they staged a battle and began whacking each other with swords and broomsticks .....
Until they "died" ...
Well, that was when I KNEW .... we South Africans may be strange, but at least we are not completely LOCO COCO!!
However, when they whipped out their flagpoles (yep, that's what I said!!) and started waving them around for the audience to admire ......
We began to feel nervous and wonder about them ....
.... and THEN .... they staged a battle and began whacking each other with swords and broomsticks .....
Until they "died" ...
Well, that was when I KNEW .... we South Africans may be strange, but at least we are not completely LOCO COCO!!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Italian Stallions
(especially for You-Know-Who .... don't you Maryannlucy??)
Purely in the interests of research, OF COURSE, we headed for the market to case out the local Italian stallions ....
But found the offerings were about as derelict as the 400 year old buildings around them!
But if you look at what they eat .... it's no wonder they are all dried up and shriveled!
This is the best sighting of an Italian stallion we got all vacation ...!
.....
...
..
Purely in the interests of research, OF COURSE, we headed for the market to case out the local Italian stallions ....
But found the offerings were about as derelict as the 400 year old buildings around them!
But if you look at what they eat .... it's no wonder they are all dried up and shriveled!
This is the best sighting of an Italian stallion we got all vacation ...!
.....
...
..
Hedwig's great great great granddaughter arrived!
My Harry Potter swap pal sent us a lovely package which seemed to have toured the world before landing on our doorstep (it came from Canada, went to the USA, then to India (?!) and finally to us in the UAE!!)
Look at the lovely loot we received :
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I was so excited to get the Charmed Knits book and the embroidery yarn, that I immediately started a Ravenclaw bookmark for DD. I took it on holiday and now it is finished and really looks smart - the first time EVER that I have knitted a pattern exactly, with no changes to the yarn or pattern!!
Thanks Pixieriot, you can breathe now!
Look at the lovely loot we received :
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I was so excited to get the Charmed Knits book and the embroidery yarn, that I immediately started a Ravenclaw bookmark for DD. I took it on holiday and now it is finished and really looks smart - the first time EVER that I have knitted a pattern exactly, with no changes to the yarn or pattern!!
Thanks Pixieriot, you can breathe now!
Guess who's back ......
Oh yeah ... you thought I was gone for good, did you? No such luck ... I needed a bit of time to clear my head and then went looking for some Italian stallions .... (more about that later) - so pour yourself a strong cuppa chow or a double whiskey, sit back, put your feet up and have a squiz at what's been going on in MY life .....
Do you D A R E ?????? Huh? Huh? Do you? I double dare you ....
Do you D A R E ?????? Huh? Huh? Do you? I double dare you ....
I won, I won, I WON!!!
Well, I never .... I actually won that Jeffrey Dahmer knitted bag competition (with my intestine bag) Karin Slaughter who ran the competition sent me two different copies of her current bestseller - autographed!! And these were some of the other goodies I received as my prize :
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I am SO entering all the competitions I can find from now on!!
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I am SO entering all the competitions I can find from now on!!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Beware ... This post not for sensitive viewers!
I recently entered a competition to knit a bag based on Jeffrey Dahmer (remember him ... the cannibal who murdered young guys and then kept body parts in his fridge etc!) Yeah, I know ... I am weird, but hey, I'm cute!
Anyhooo, the website had a basic bag with a dagger knitted into it .... I modified it to this .....
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Unfortunately,the contest website has not been updated, so I don't know if they liked the bag .... Now, just exactly what am I going to do with it ... Can't quite see myself walking down the street with an intestine draped artistically over my shoulder, can you?
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Anyhooo, the website had a basic bag with a dagger knitted into it .... I modified it to this .....
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Unfortunately,the contest website has not been updated, so I don't know if they liked the bag .... Now, just exactly what am I going to do with it ... Can't quite see myself walking down the street with an intestine draped artistically over my shoulder, can you?
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Saturday, September 8, 2007
Felting .... Second verse, same as the first !
I refused to give up ... I wanted to felt the bloody bowl, even if it killed me!
Today I decided, after chatting to a knitting pal who has "vast" experience in felting (she felted a hat by mistake and ended up with a bowl ... which is exactly the reverse of what I tried to do!!) maybe my washing machine does not get hot enough to do the deed.
So .... I BOILED my hat/bowl in a saucepan on the stove. Picture the scene ...
Dinnertime - DD lifts lid of saucepan as she asks her regular daily question "So, what's for dinner?"
Me : "Boiled raccoon"
DD *screams and faints*
Yeah, well it COULD have happened, you know!
Anyhoooo, I boiled it and I poked it again and I squished and squashed it again and guess what ..... it felted -slightly-, in that it got sort of furry, but guess what else ....
......
...... go on, guess ......
......
it
S - T - R - E - T - C - H - E - D
Yup, it is now the size of a generous lampshade, BUT IT IS FELTED .....
I WIN, I WIN, I WIN!!
Today I decided, after chatting to a knitting pal who has "vast" experience in felting (she felted a hat by mistake and ended up with a bowl ... which is exactly the reverse of what I tried to do!!) maybe my washing machine does not get hot enough to do the deed.
So .... I BOILED my hat/bowl in a saucepan on the stove. Picture the scene ...
Dinnertime - DD lifts lid of saucepan as she asks her regular daily question "So, what's for dinner?"
Me : "Boiled raccoon"
DD *screams and faints*
Yeah, well it COULD have happened, you know!
Anyhoooo, I boiled it and I poked it again and I squished and squashed it again and guess what ..... it felted -slightly-, in that it got sort of furry, but guess what else ....
......
...... go on, guess ......
......
it
S - T - R - E - T - C - H - E - D
Yup, it is now the size of a generous lampshade, BUT IT IS FELTED .....
I WIN, I WIN, I WIN!!
Saturday, September 1, 2007
I'm a F***ing failure!
F-e-l-t-ing, felting, I'm a Felting Failure!!
I got some Lopi 100% wool, which is virtually guaranteed to felt if you just wave it over some water. Well, I decided to make a lovely felted bowl for knitting knick-knacks ... So, as per the instructions of several websites I consulted, I knitted with the wool doubled - to ensure that it would be nice and thick in the end.
The tight doubleknitted stitches played havoc with my wrists, but it was finally done ....
It looked like this BEFORE FELTING
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The label distinctly says "Gentle handwash in lukewarm water, do not rub or wring" - HAH! With a peverse sense of pleasure ... I proceeded to dunk it in water, I squished it and squashed it, I pummeled it and poked it with a wooden spoon, I mangled it and even mashed it with a potato masher (does it sound like I was having a bit TOO much fun??) I poured a kettleful of boiling water over it - it smelt like a wet sheep, a very DEAD wet sheep! I tossed it into a pillowcase, along with a couple of plastic lids (for extra agitation, you know ... although the only thing getting agitated was ME!) I bunged it into the washing machine with a pair of jeans (for EXTRA agitation ...) and sent it off for 20 minutes of hot water swirling and churning. I could almost HEAR the fibres screaming for mercy .... HHHHAAAHHH!
Opening the washing machine door was like opening a long awaited Christmas present ... with impatience I ripped open the pillowcase and tumbled the contents out ...
It looked like THIS - AFTER FELTING :
Do you think it looks e-x-a-c-t-l-y the same as the "BEFORE" photo????
I told you I am a F***ing failure!! And I now have a lovely, non felted, fairly floppy, pure wool HAT instead!!
I got some Lopi 100% wool, which is virtually guaranteed to felt if you just wave it over some water. Well, I decided to make a lovely felted bowl for knitting knick-knacks ... So, as per the instructions of several websites I consulted, I knitted with the wool doubled - to ensure that it would be nice and thick in the end.
The tight doubleknitted stitches played havoc with my wrists, but it was finally done ....
It looked like this BEFORE FELTING
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The label distinctly says "Gentle handwash in lukewarm water, do not rub or wring" - HAH! With a peverse sense of pleasure ... I proceeded to dunk it in water, I squished it and squashed it, I pummeled it and poked it with a wooden spoon, I mangled it and even mashed it with a potato masher (does it sound like I was having a bit TOO much fun??) I poured a kettleful of boiling water over it - it smelt like a wet sheep, a very DEAD wet sheep! I tossed it into a pillowcase, along with a couple of plastic lids (for extra agitation, you know ... although the only thing getting agitated was ME!) I bunged it into the washing machine with a pair of jeans (for EXTRA agitation ...) and sent it off for 20 minutes of hot water swirling and churning. I could almost HEAR the fibres screaming for mercy .... HHHHAAAHHH!
Opening the washing machine door was like opening a long awaited Christmas present ... with impatience I ripped open the pillowcase and tumbled the contents out ...
It looked like THIS - AFTER FELTING :
Do you think it looks e-x-a-c-t-l-y the same as the "BEFORE" photo????
I told you I am a F***ing failure!! And I now have a lovely, non felted, fairly floppy, pure wool HAT instead!!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
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Friday, August 10, 2007
Kool Aid is sooo Kooool
(Note : This entry is dedicated to Deb Brown, a fellow knitter without whose generosity, none of this creative wizardry would have been possible. Thanks Deb!)
Last Saturday the Lulu family turned bright red and blue and purple ... no, we weren't angry, we were Kool Aid dyeing!! If you want to do it too, these are the what-to-do's (and some definite what-NOT-to-do's!!)
Start with bare yarn and a truck load of Kool Aid in various colours (oops, sorry, flavours!)
Swat off whingeing daughter who scuttles off clutching packets of said Kool Aid muttering "It's for drinking not dyeing!"
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Stop for a bite of spaghetti ... heh heh heh ... soak yarn in water and stir well (NOT!) ... Did someone mention doing it one skein at a time?
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Put on plastic gloves (IMPORTANT!) and pose with cheesy smile for the BEFORE picture!
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Artistically drape skein over dishes containing dye so it looks professional for the photo
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After trying to get artistically draped yarn out of bowls without the colours touching each other and running, decide to use one big bowl with yarn wound round in it
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Cover, microwave, rest, rest yarn, microwave, rest yarn, have coffee, rinse yarn, *squeeze out excess water, burn fingers, swear, drop yarn back in water, repeat from *, drape artistically over laundry drying rack, allow to dry whilst cleaning up the wrecked kitchen
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Puff out chest and coo like proud mamma at beoootiful colours of yarn produced by own dyed, burned hands
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Turn into yarn cakes - delicious enough to eat!
And ... they SMELL so good too!!
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Knit up squares to make unique, one of a kind, Kool smelling blankie (and one handbag for said whingeing daughter)
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Now, doesn't that sound like fun ... go get some bare, nekkid yarn and some Kool Aid and try it for yourself ... if WE can do it, ANYONE can!!
Last Saturday the Lulu family turned bright red and blue and purple ... no, we weren't angry, we were Kool Aid dyeing!! If you want to do it too, these are the what-to-do's (and some definite what-NOT-to-do's!!)
Start with bare yarn and a truck load of Kool Aid in various colours (oops, sorry, flavours!)
Swat off whingeing daughter who scuttles off clutching packets of said Kool Aid muttering "It's for drinking not dyeing!"
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Stop for a bite of spaghetti ... heh heh heh ... soak yarn in water and stir well (NOT!) ... Did someone mention doing it one skein at a time?
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Put on plastic gloves (IMPORTANT!) and pose with cheesy smile for the BEFORE picture!
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Artistically drape skein over dishes containing dye so it looks professional for the photo
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After trying to get artistically draped yarn out of bowls without the colours touching each other and running, decide to use one big bowl with yarn wound round in it
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Cover, microwave, rest, rest yarn, microwave, rest yarn, have coffee, rinse yarn, *squeeze out excess water, burn fingers, swear, drop yarn back in water, repeat from *, drape artistically over laundry drying rack, allow to dry whilst cleaning up the wrecked kitchen
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Puff out chest and coo like proud mamma at beoootiful colours of yarn produced by own dyed, burned hands
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Turn into yarn cakes - delicious enough to eat!
And ... they SMELL so good too!!
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Knit up squares to make unique, one of a kind, Kool smelling blankie (and one handbag for said whingeing daughter)
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Now, doesn't that sound like fun ... go get some bare, nekkid yarn and some Kool Aid and try it for yourself ... if WE can do it, ANYONE can!!
Saturday, July 28, 2007
A Bag for a Bag
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This is the lovely bag (tote) that I received in the recent Bag Exchange. It was specially felted for me because I had never seen/felt a felted bag before. It is lovely and roomy and I really like the colours. My super pal included some other knitting goodies as well - jealousy gets you nowhere!!Thank you so much, bookwoolies aka sheepish61 aka tori .....
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Wednesday, July 25, 2007
MOTHER MUGGLE MANAGED to beat Harry!
Work your fingers to the bone and what do you get .... boney fingers
.... and some pretty nice socks!
Yes, the socks made it to the opening (at 3-00am)
She got her copy - thank goodness she has ears - or her smile would have gone right the way round her head!
She plunged straight into the book (at 3.30am!!)
Even Precious the cat was ignored ....
Oh yes, by the way, I invented something else ..... a book band, which keeps the book open while you read!
Well, I guess that chapter of her childhood is closed now .... what's next?
.... and some pretty nice socks!
Yes, the socks made it to the opening (at 3-00am)
She got her copy - thank goodness she has ears - or her smile would have gone right the way round her head!
She plunged straight into the book (at 3.30am!!)
Even Precious the cat was ignored ....
Oh yes, by the way, I invented something else ..... a book band, which keeps the book open while you read!
Well, I guess that chapter of her childhood is closed now .... what's next?
Monday, July 16, 2007
Will Mother Muggle Manage? UPDATED UPDATE!!
I consider DD one of the foremost afficianados of the literary phenomenon currently in vogue .... in other words, she is nuts about Harry Potter!!
At the last book launch, she was super-excited and managed to be Number 100 in the UAE to get the book (at 3.05am!) She had dutifully worn her HP scarf (as megafans do!)
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The idea this year was for her to add some more HP knitted garments for her line-up.
Plan A did not quite work out as intended, so Mother Muggle (Me, Myself) has hauled out the knitting needles and is frantically whizzing (wizarding?) up a pair of socks. Naturally, DD did not want plain ol' stripey socks, so we combined stripes, zigzags (scar ala Horcrux pattern) and some liberal thumbsucking by moi! I was stumbling along, having almost completed the first sock, when I realised ....
Urm ... THAT is not much time for a novice like me to bash out a pair of socks ..... I pulled my finger out, finished the first sock and have cast on the second one .....
Bearing in mind, the child does not have feet,
she has YARDS .....
WILL
MOTHER
MUGGLE
MANAGE??????????????????????????
LOTS of coffee later .... we are closer but time has flown too ....
Progress is sure, but slow .... I wonder if she can wear them like this ?
*Sigh* Hubeasts are such odd creatures!
Monday, July 9, 2007
Wine Blossoms ARE (finally) HERE
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WINE BLOSSOMS(Which Wine is Mine)
Wine Blossoms
are a colourful way
to identify wine glasses
during a party.
Each guest gets a uniquely coloured blossom which is easily removable when they use a new glass
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I think I have made my fans wait long enough ... so here is the pattern for the Famous Wine Blossoms ... but first a couple of technicalities :
- Please make them, change them, improve them, sell them, enjoy them, BUT ... please call them Blossoms (you can can call them Sue's Blossoms, Linda's Lovely Wine Blossoms, I don't care, but please, in honour of the wonderful person they were invented for ... call them BLOSSOMS)
- If you DO make them, in any form or evolution - please send me pics - I would love to know who is making/using them, and where, and what YOURS look like. Thank you.
The Pattern : (Now, remember, I ain't no designer, this be my first time, so be gentle with me!)
Yarn requirements : I used Double Knitting Yarn (400cm ... 4metres ...158 inches ... 13,1feet) ... talk about using up scraps of yarn!!
Needles : 3.5mm or 4mm (not too big, you don't want floppy blossoms, do you?)
Cast on 13 stitches
Next row : K1 (Knit into front and back of rest of stitches) = 25 stitches
Next row : Purl one row
Next row : Cast Off 2 stitches* (Knit 2tog, Make 1 to end) = 22 stitches
Next row : Cast On 2 stitches* (Purl to end) = 24 stitches
Next row : Knit one row
Next row : Purl 2 tog to end = 12 stitches
Next row : Cast off ...
It is an odd shape, but don't worry - that is what it should be - odd shaped (like me)!
Fold over lengthwise, thus forming the blossom bumps
Stitch together along short side, leaving the *2stitch cast on and *2stitch cast off bits not doubled .... are you getting this - am I 'splaining it ok? Those two little sticking out parts are where you must sew a press-stud or velcro, which will allow the Blossom to be opened and closed around a wine glass..... got it??
Well, that's it folks - looks more complicated than it is - just like me!!
I tried adding beads to the edges (looked crap because I could only get crappy beads! But I reckon nice beads would look quite larney).
I tried crocheting long ties instead of the press-studs, but the guinea pig I got to try them (namely, DH) tied the knot so tight, we had to cut the Blossom off the glass!! Savage!
Please, have fun, adapt and change them to suit your needs. Let me know what you think and how they work out for you!!
Friday, July 6, 2007
Caveat Lector - Reader Beware!!
Reader Beware ....
Some of my posts (well, most actually ...) contain the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, according to Lulu. They are biased, one-sided and contain extremely knitting-politically incorrect content. (And this is AFTER I have edited and re-edited them to take out all the really harsh stuff!)
Readers who are hyper-sensitive, exceedingly non-judgemental, thin-skinned, touchy or delicate are warned not to proceed any further. Exposure to my harsh, straight-talking, direct, blunt, candid views may cause nausea, weeping, faintheadedness and tremors which could lead to the poking out of one's eyes with knitting needles ... especially if the truth hurts.
So read them at your own risk ..............................................................
Some of my posts (well, most actually ...) contain the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, according to Lulu. They are biased, one-sided and contain extremely knitting-politically incorrect content. (And this is AFTER I have edited and re-edited them to take out all the really harsh stuff!)
Readers who are hyper-sensitive, exceedingly non-judgemental, thin-skinned, touchy or delicate are warned not to proceed any further. Exposure to my harsh, straight-talking, direct, blunt, candid views may cause nausea, weeping, faintheadedness and tremors which could lead to the poking out of one's eyes with knitting needles ... especially if the truth hurts.
So read them at your own risk ..............................................................
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
The finished bag ....
I finished knitting the bag/tote for my exchange. My pal said she is not a frilly girly girl and prefered natural colours and simple patterns. I have always loved cabled bags, and this was my opportunity to make one!
The finished product looked like this :
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Then I added a matching makeup/nick nack purse to match
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which I filled with a pen, notepad, lipbalm and other necessities of life!
Then came a little money bag/pursey type thing and some yum yum
thingies and .... off it went ....
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I hope my pal likes it .............
The finished product looked like this :
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Then I added a matching makeup/nick nack purse to match
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which I filled with a pen, notepad, lipbalm and other necessities of life!
Then came a little money bag/pursey type thing and some yum yum
thingies and .... off it went ....
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I hope my pal likes it .............
Friday, June 29, 2007
...and there was more Harry Potter madness ...
I painted a little ceramic wizard statue, especially for my HP Pal ... I think it came out quite well ... and it even survived the trans-Atlantic trip
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My Pal likes stars - can you tell?
She also wanted something specific to the country where I live. These gorgeous replicas of handcarved Arabic doors make lovely picture frames. We made a HP picture into a cross-stitch graph and DD spent hours (um, no .... weeks!) embroidering it.
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My Pal likes stars - can you tell?
She also wanted something specific to the country where I live. These gorgeous replicas of handcarved Arabic doors make lovely picture frames. We made a HP picture into a cross-stitch graph and DD spent hours (um, no .... weeks!) embroidering it.
I loved designing/inventing these special goodies and can't wait to see what my upstream Pal has in store for us ... Long live Knitty Swaps!
A golden snitch stitchmarker holder ...
...try saying that fast three times!!
I joined a Harry Potter Knitty swap. And, of course, had to invent something completely unheard of ... Have a look at the Golden Snitch Stitchmarker Holder ...
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It is golden, with white "wings"
When you open the "wings" (ties) out pops a clear plastic egg
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Which contains some lovely stitchmarkers
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I'm sorry, but I just have to brag .... "Brag"!
I joined a Harry Potter Knitty swap. And, of course, had to invent something completely unheard of ... Have a look at the Golden Snitch Stitchmarker Holder ...
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It is golden, with white "wings"
When you open the "wings" (ties) out pops a clear plastic egg
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Which contains some lovely stitchmarkers
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I'm sorry, but I just have to brag .... "Brag"!
I hope my Secret Pal enjoys the uniqueness of it!! She IS the only person in WORLD who has one!!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Talking about wine ..... we WERE weren't we??
Just a little interlude .... and maybe a prelude .... (remember the Wine Blossoms? Well, here comes the pattern, folks ....) But first ....
There is a wine farm in South Africa that is situated right in the middle of a breeding ground for frogs. Yes, frogs! They are protected (the frogs, that is) and at mating time, the frogs have right of way to cross the main road which separates the boy frogs from the girls frogs (kinda!)
So, as you do, the wine farm owners named their wine farm after the frogs .... Paddagang (which means frogway, or frog right of way.) They then went on to name each of their wines in the groggy froggy theme ...
Never let it be said that we South Africans are NorMaL!!
There is a wine farm in South Africa that is situated right in the middle of a breeding ground for frogs. Yes, frogs! They are protected (the frogs, that is) and at mating time, the frogs have right of way to cross the main road which separates the boy frogs from the girls frogs (kinda!)
So, as you do, the wine farm owners named their wine farm after the frogs .... Paddagang (which means frogway, or frog right of way.) They then went on to name each of their wines in the groggy froggy theme ...
Never let it be said that we South Africans are NorMaL!!
Monday, June 25, 2007
Such a poser .....
A while ago, I f-i-n-a-l-l-y finished the sweater from Hell .... a boring, neverending test of patience and stick-to-it-ness.
DH is not a small size and kept saying "make the sleeves longer .... longer .... longer" - until I threatened to make various of his body parts a LOT longer by strangling him with them!!
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But, on the positive side, it DID give me the opportunity to use some of Entrelac's famous stitchmarkers (the first time I have ever actually seen or used these modern devices!)
Anywho .... IT IS FINALLY F*CKING FINISHED!! And here, for posterity is the proof ....
Until I threatened him AGAIN (see above) ... whereupon, he "POSED"!!
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Awwwww....!! The things we do for love ....
DH is not a small size and kept saying "make the sleeves longer .... longer .... longer" - until I threatened to make various of his body parts a LOT longer by strangling him with them!!
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But, on the positive side, it DID give me the opportunity to use some of Entrelac's famous stitchmarkers (the first time I have ever actually seen or used these modern devices!)
Anywho .... IT IS FINALLY F*CKING FINISHED!! And here, for posterity is the proof ....
... He hates being photographed and just stood like a lump on a log......JPG)
Until I threatened him AGAIN (see above) ... whereupon, he "POSED"!!
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Awwwww....!! The things we do for love ....
Saturday, June 23, 2007
One reason why I knit ....
Knitting Prayer (by Richard Muto - adapted by Christine White)
As my fingers count and caress each stitch
They become a heartbeat, a safeguard and a rhythm of comfort
Row after row, I am lulled into meditation
My journey guided by the rhythm of the needles
The rhythm of the loom
The rhythm of the spinning wheel
Each ancient fabric is my testimony
Stitch by stitch I incorporate my soul into the fabric
I join a long strand of humanity
Whose story is told through the textiles of time
The ancients who braided precious fibres into their hair
Early Egyptian weavers whose delicate linen wrappings
Secured the final journey of the Pharaohs
The earliest mariners whose purposeful knots
Now add beauty to my sweaters
Passed to future generations ...
My stitches of life will endure
As my fingers count and caress each stitch
They become a heartbeat, a safeguard and a rhythm of comfort
Row after row, I am lulled into meditation
My journey guided by the rhythm of the needles
The rhythm of the loom
The rhythm of the spinning wheel
Each ancient fabric is my testimony
Stitch by stitch I incorporate my soul into the fabric
I join a long strand of humanity
Whose story is told through the textiles of time
The ancients who braided precious fibres into their hair
Early Egyptian weavers whose delicate linen wrappings
Secured the final journey of the Pharaohs
The earliest mariners whose purposeful knots
Now add beauty to my sweaters
Passed to future generations ...
My stitches of life will endure
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Professor McGonagall
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Did you know that Professor McGonagall loves to transfigure and has turned herself into her Animagus - Precious the Cat.......
The Bag knits a bag
I am busy knitting a bag (aka tote) for an exchange. Man, it is such fun - my new fav thing to knit. You can be as plain or as ott(over-the-top) creative as you want.
But, for this swap, I managed to keep my creative juices in check and am knitting a relatively staid cabled bag. I am using variegated yarn from Peru or Chile or Mexico ... one of them Souf American cities!!! So maybe it comes from a push-me-pull-you or a yak or a cactus - who knows ....
But, for this swap, I managed to keep my creative juices in check and am knitting a relatively staid cabled bag. I am using variegated yarn from Peru or Chile or Mexico ... one of them Souf American cities!!! So maybe it comes from a push-me-pull-you or a yak or a cactus - who knows ....(And don't you go thinking the colours look like sha-khi - cross between shit and khaki, the true colours are actually olive green and a khaki yellow - very camoflaugy - well, my swapee did say she liked natural colours and what could be more natural than green and yellow weeds?)
Anyway, I digress .... I was so excited and enthusiastic with the knitting of this bag, that I did this .........
Ooooops!! Broke my circular needle - on its very first outing too.
Nevermind, a spot of superglue and we were good to go again .....
I will post pics of the finished product once said Swapee has received it ... try to control your curiosity!!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Thank you # 3
During a Secret Pal Swap, you send gifts to one person and someone else sends gifts to you - that is how it works,... except in the case of Maryannlucy http://maryannlucy.blogspot.com/ ... she was the one I was supposed to spoil during Spring Fling, but somehow SHE has ended up spoiling ME like crazy. You can see some spoilage in an earlier entry (scroll down), and look what she has been up to NOW ....
We were definitely sisters in a previous life and share a lot of the same interests and values .... From the sublime ....
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To the ridiculous ....
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Now, in case you haven't quite got the whole squinting thing right yet, let me describe what she sent me ... Two amazingly interesting motivational books which I am devouring ... I didn't realise I needed so much spiritual help!!
The big pink blob is a shower cap in the shape of a raspberry ... aptly named "Raspberry Beret" OMG, really?? It gets better ... pink false eyelashes ... YES, P-I-N-K!! She reckons that when I dress in my abaya with my face covered except for my eyes - I can flutter my PINK eyelashes and the camel boys will come running .... THAT I have just got to try!
Now, how do you say thank you to someone for coming into your life in such an open and giving way, someone who you have never met and have not known long, but someone who you KNOW you can be yourself with, you can laugh with, you can be silly or serious with.
The Universe is smiling - two TRUE friends have met!
We were definitely sisters in a previous life and share a lot of the same interests and values .... From the sublime ....
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To the ridiculous ....
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Now, in case you haven't quite got the whole squinting thing right yet, let me describe what she sent me ... Two amazingly interesting motivational books which I am devouring ... I didn't realise I needed so much spiritual help!!
The big pink blob is a shower cap in the shape of a raspberry ... aptly named "Raspberry Beret" OMG, really?? It gets better ... pink false eyelashes ... YES, P-I-N-K!! She reckons that when I dress in my abaya with my face covered except for my eyes - I can flutter my PINK eyelashes and the camel boys will come running .... THAT I have just got to try!
Now, how do you say thank you to someone for coming into your life in such an open and giving way, someone who you have never met and have not known long, but someone who you KNOW you can be yourself with, you can laugh with, you can be silly or serious with.
The Universe is smiling - two TRUE friends have met!
Thank you # 2
The fabulous, clever, delightfully witty name of this blog is the result of a competition I held on the Knitty Board. One of the ladies who entered (but, alas did not win the main prize) was Linnea in Germany (http://lackofalltrades.blogspot.com/)
This fantastically generous knitter decided to spoil me with the most amazing gifts ... I felt like I had won my own competition! Have a look what popped out of her parcel .......
These are yarns that Knitties discuss all the time on the board, but which I have never seen (and have no access to here in the desert!) NOW I know what the ladies are talking about - I have some!!
JUST LOOK AT THIS YARN .... (Oh, and there was a ball of Sari Silk which escaped being photographed)
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And further spoilage ensued .... Sets of double pointed needles, chocolate, tea and THE cutest ladybug stitchmarkers. But, it was not over yet!
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Linnea, an excellent and accomplished spinner, decided that I, a complete hamfisted, ignoramus spinner, should be tempted .... She sent me some roving (which is pre-spun yarn), a spindle ... wait ... it has my signature sign-off and LULU painted on it - it is MY VERY OWN PERSONAL SPINDLE .... and a beginner's (read idiot's) guide to spinning .... and an example of what yarn SHOULD look like - a ball of her very own homespun yarn.
Thank you are such small words for such a big and generous gesture, but I just don't know what else I could say. Lots of good knitting karma is definitely coming your way!!
This fantastically generous knitter decided to spoil me with the most amazing gifts ... I felt like I had won my own competition! Have a look what popped out of her parcel .......
These are yarns that Knitties discuss all the time on the board, but which I have never seen (and have no access to here in the desert!) NOW I know what the ladies are talking about - I have some!!
JUST LOOK AT THIS YARN .... (Oh, and there was a ball of Sari Silk which escaped being photographed)
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And further spoilage ensued .... Sets of double pointed needles, chocolate, tea and THE cutest ladybug stitchmarkers. But, it was not over yet!
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Linnea, an excellent and accomplished spinner, decided that I, a complete hamfisted, ignoramus spinner, should be tempted .... She sent me some roving (which is pre-spun yarn), a spindle ... wait ... it has my signature sign-off and LULU painted on it - it is MY VERY OWN PERSONAL SPINDLE .... and a beginner's (read idiot's) guide to spinning .... and an example of what yarn SHOULD look like - a ball of her very own homespun yarn.
Thank you are such small words for such a big and generous gesture, but I just don't know what else I could say. Lots of good knitting karma is definitely coming your way!!
Thank you #1
Have I mentioned before that knitters are THE most generous people?
Let me demonstrate ....
The Knitty Spring Fling Swap ran for 6 weeks and my Secret Pal spoilt me with these goodies :
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Let me demonstrate ....
The Knitty Spring Fling Swap ran for 6 weeks and my Secret Pal spoilt me with these goodies :
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A case to hold my needles, some row counters which I desperately need (I'm sick of little bits of paper, which tend to get lost overnight!), cute needle tip protectors which I had never heard of before, some lovely squishable Debbie Bliss yarn (NOW I know what you ladies are talking about!), some cotton rope ... mmm what shall I knit with THAT? A tin of almond biscuits which DH nicked immediately, some mousey toys for my cat baby and that lovely Stitch Book you see - I am planning on knitting EVERY SINGLE one before I die!! So, my first thank you goes to Piewacket (http://piewacketknits.blogspot.com/). This was my very first experience at Secret Pal Swapping and it won't be my last!
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Lulu - The Rock Chick!!
Ok, well...... Lulu - The Old Rock Hen ....
Off we (DD and me) grooved to see Aerosmith live in Dubai. Don't believe me? Well, here are the photos to prove it ....
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We would never have had this opportunity back home
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You need a magnifying glass to see any sign of human life on the stage (we were in the cheap seats, ok?)
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It was hot (in a cool way!) and it was HOT (in a Dubai middle of summer way) but it was
R-O-C-K-I-N-G
Dude!!
I did want to take my knitting, but DD threatened me with all kinds of bodily harm if I even thought about it!!
Off we (DD and me) grooved to see Aerosmith live in Dubai. Don't believe me? Well, here are the photos to prove it ....
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We would never have had this opportunity back home
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You need a magnifying glass to see any sign of human life on the stage (we were in the cheap seats, ok?)
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It was hot (in a cool way!) and it was HOT (in a Dubai middle of summer way) but it was
R-O-C-K-I-N-G
Dude!!
I did want to take my knitting, but DD threatened me with all kinds of bodily harm if I even thought about it!!
Monday, June 4, 2007
Knitty Swapage
Sandykins (http://sandykins57.livejournal.com/) and I both signed up for the Spring Fling Secret Pal round, but could not wait for it to begin, so we had an unofficial, between-the-two-of-us swap and she was sooooo generous, have a look at what she sent me all the way from Sweeden ....
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No, you are NOT seeing things ... she sent a complete set of circular needles - how COOL is that!! Some soft snuggly light green bamboo yarn - gonna make some sox when I get over squishing it!
Raspberry chocolate most of which didn't even make it out of the car ... well, the wrapper did! And salted licorice - a treat from my childhood.
Then there was a gorgeous cross-stitch runner - beautiful colours. Some serviettes with a picture of a painted wooden horse ... from the town that paints them!! I can't bring myself to actually USE them and am seriously looking at using them to decoupage a box ... And a miniature moose keychain/purse which is already hanging on my handbag.
You just can't beat Knitty generosity, can you???
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No, you are NOT seeing things ... she sent a complete set of circular needles - how COOL is that!! Some soft snuggly light green bamboo yarn - gonna make some sox when I get over squishing it!
Raspberry chocolate most of which didn't even make it out of the car ... well, the wrapper did! And salted licorice - a treat from my childhood.
Then there was a gorgeous cross-stitch runner - beautiful colours. Some serviettes with a picture of a painted wooden horse ... from the town that paints them!! I can't bring myself to actually USE them and am seriously looking at using them to decoupage a box ... And a miniature moose keychain/purse which is already hanging on my handbag.
You just can't beat Knitty generosity, can you???
Friday, June 1, 2007
Beautiful yarn begets beautiful socks
Do you remember the scrumptious yarn that Lori (aka Crazyknits) sent me? In a Random Act of Kindness package that was soooo fabulous .....
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Well, I finally stopped snogging it and plucked up the courage to actually wind the skein into a "ball" .... I first had to have help from the knittyboard friends as to how to do that .... being the virgin that I am!!
Then, after ploughing through heaps of sock patterns, finally found one that was worthy of my precious yarn.
I am so proud and excited at how they turned out - my first REAL pair of socks - I am in love with them ...... which brings it's own problem ...... >
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There are no pictures of the socks on my feet - no way am I WALKING on them!!
Just as soon as I figure out how to fit them in, I am so FRAMING them!!!
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Well, I finally stopped snogging it and plucked up the courage to actually wind the skein into a "ball" .... I first had to have help from the knittyboard friends as to how to do that .... being the virgin that I am!!
Then, after ploughing through heaps of sock patterns, finally found one that was worthy of my precious yarn.
I am so proud and excited at how they turned out - my first REAL pair of socks - I am in love with them ...... which brings it's own problem ...... >
>
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There are no pictures of the socks on my feet - no way am I WALKING on them!!
Just as soon as I figure out how to fit them in, I am so FRAMING them!!!
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Thursday, May 24, 2007
A call for help ....
A Knitty friend asked for help knitting chemo caps for a young boy with cancer. Of course, being a knitty, I jumped at the opportunity to help ... but because I can't get the soft yarn needed for a cap, I knitted him a small teddy which I hope helps him when he gets his chemotherapy.
Of course, we all send him lots of positive vibes and hope he beats it soon.
Of course, we all send him lots of positive vibes and hope he beats it soon.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
I am such a lucky *itch
(That's a "w" not a "b"!!)
I strongly believe in the principles of Wicca, which have a lot to do with communing with nature and preserving our fragile world. I don't practice a formal religion, probably because of the Catholic boarding school upbringing I had - but I do believe in meditation and doing unto others ... Not many of my friends or family share my "religious" views, so imagine my surprise when I discovered that my spoilee (downstream) in a recent Secret Pal Swap, shared the same interests. And imagine my absolute delight when she sent me a surprise in the post .... look what I got from her :
A book of spells (already used a couple of them ....), a gorgeous silver charm (already hanging around DD's neck), cards, stickers, seeds and ....
A small broom (besem) complete with spell to protect our home ... (here DD incants said spell and attached besem to the front door)
Thank you Pal
Seeds of Friendship grow strong and Blossom!
I strongly believe in the principles of Wicca, which have a lot to do with communing with nature and preserving our fragile world. I don't practice a formal religion, probably because of the Catholic boarding school upbringing I had - but I do believe in meditation and doing unto others ... Not many of my friends or family share my "religious" views, so imagine my surprise when I discovered that my spoilee (downstream) in a recent Secret Pal Swap, shared the same interests. And imagine my absolute delight when she sent me a surprise in the post .... look what I got from her :
A book of spells (already used a couple of them ....), a gorgeous silver charm (already hanging around DD's neck), cards, stickers, seeds and ....
A small broom (besem) complete with spell to protect our home ... (here DD incants said spell and attached besem to the front door)
Thank you Pal
Seeds of Friendship grow strong and Blossom!
Friday, May 18, 2007
Oh no, I've been tagged TWICE
Ha, I have been tagged...
This is a new thing! A first! I have been tagged by Pixieriot and Maryannlucy. Just you wait, I will get you back one day!! It's ok if I combine them, hey? Thinking of 14 people to tag just hurts my head!!
These, apparently, are the rules... Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.
Ok, that I believe is it, now to think of 7 random things:
1. I am more an animal person than a people person
2. I am actually shy and introverted .... YES I AM!!
3. I never get road rage ... well, I didn't till I came to Abu Dhabi
4. I have never had a massage, manicure or pedicure - can't stand other people touching me
5. My handbag contains all kinds of everything, including the kitchen sink
6. I hate my hair and wish I had the guts to "Britney" it
7. I never throw anything away - I have heaps of tomato sauce sachets, empty toilet rolls, cardboard boxes, broken watches, unloved jewellry and 6inch long bits of yarn - one day we will NEED them ........
..now to tag my 7.......I think I will tag...(and please don't hate me ...)
bookrump http://blogs.litfan.com
sandykins http://sandykins57.livejournal.com
lisa http://thechickenhouse.blogspot.com
zanne http://knitty-zanne.blogspot.com
cooknknit http://cooknknit.com
piewacket http://piewacketknits.blogspot.com
thea http://babycocktails.blogspot.com
(Good luck - it has taken me all frigging afternoon to find 7 people who have not yet been tagged and who I think will not seriously injure me for tagging them!!)
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
WINE BLOSSOMS have arrived
I wanted to send my Secret Pal something special, something nobody else had, something knitted (of course), something that would remind her of the fun she had in the Spring Fling...... so Wine Blossoms were invented:
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WINE BLOSSOMS
(Which Wine is Mine)
Wine Blossoms
are a colourful way
to identify wine glasses
during a party.
Each guest gets a uniquely coloured blossom which is
easily removable when they use a new glass
WINE BLOSSOMS
(Which Wine is Mine)
Wine Blossoms
are a colourful way
to identify wine glasses
during a party.
Each guest gets a uniquely coloured blossom which is
easily removable when they use a new glass
DD and I sat for days working out the logistics - some were too small to fit around the stem of the glass, some were too bulky, some looked like grandma's night-hat, some were too floppy .... but finally we think we hit on a winning pattern. What do you think?
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Sunday, May 6, 2007
My Local Yarn Shop (LYS)
I have to force myself not to hyperventilate when I go into my Local Yarn Shop -
which is one of only two in the city - the range and choice is sooo overwhelming ....
The lace section :
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The embroidery section
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The wool section :
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which is one of only two in the city - the range and choice is sooo overwhelming ....
The lace section :
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The embroidery section
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The wool section :
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A Knitting Parcel from Heaven
(Well, it is from an angel at the very least!!)
A RAK parcel came today - completely out of the blue (the VERY best kind!!) It felt like Christmas, my birthday and Chinese New Year all rolled into one. Look what the angel sent me :
Firstly, notice the exquisite box - it screams class, but it also screamed "Open me, open me, open me ..."
Okay, I admit, I ripped into the box with my car keys, there and then - in the car park - well, there was NO WAY I was going to wait until I got home - forgetaboudit.
A bag with not one, not two, but three skeins/hanks of THE most incredible sock yarn - ACTUAL, REAL sock yarn. (I have never seen a skein of anything in real life, and I have never seen or felt or smelt or snuggled real, live sock yarn. (But I did today - right there in the PO car park - with a glazed look of love on my face, too!!)
Then out popped some dpns - bamboo, no less - never seen those before either!! And two circular needles to play with and a really useful booklet for notes on my adventures in sock knitting land. Oh, oh, oh..... it couldn't get any better, could it? .... it all smelt so delicious - just like honey, why? Because the angel had added some Bee Bar lotion too.
DD and I had a tug of war over possession of the plastic carrier bag - the little brat won!
Then we fought over the yarn - hah, this time I won!
And the yarn is now sitting on my laptop, where I can see it and snuggle it while I surf!!
Thank you Lori aka Crazyknits - you are simply the best!!
A RAK parcel came today - completely out of the blue (the VERY best kind!!) It felt like Christmas, my birthday and Chinese New Year all rolled into one. Look what the angel sent me :
Firstly, notice the exquisite box - it screams class, but it also screamed "Open me, open me, open me ..."
Okay, I admit, I ripped into the box with my car keys, there and then - in the car park - well, there was NO WAY I was going to wait until I got home - forgetaboudit.
A bag with not one, not two, but three skeins/hanks of THE most incredible sock yarn - ACTUAL, REAL sock yarn. (I have never seen a skein of anything in real life, and I have never seen or felt or smelt or snuggled real, live sock yarn. (But I did today - right there in the PO car park - with a glazed look of love on my face, too!!)
Then out popped some dpns - bamboo, no less - never seen those before either!! And two circular needles to play with and a really useful booklet for notes on my adventures in sock knitting land. Oh, oh, oh..... it couldn't get any better, could it? .... it all smelt so delicious - just like honey, why? Because the angel had added some Bee Bar lotion too.
DD and I had a tug of war over possession of the plastic carrier bag - the little brat won!
Then we fought over the yarn - hah, this time I won!
And the yarn is now sitting on my laptop, where I can see it and snuggle it while I surf!!
Thank you Lori aka Crazyknits - you are simply the best!!
Heritage Village crafts
A recent visit to the Heritage Craft Village intrigued those of us with an obsession with handmade craft objects .....
Like this guy (who was up to his neck in weaving!) :
A Work In Progress
Samples of beautiful woven silks :
Looms for making larger tapestries and carpets :
The finished products
Like this guy (who was up to his neck in weaving!) :
A Work In Progress
Samples of beautiful woven silks :
Looms for making larger tapestries and carpets :
The finished products
My next project ...
Can you guess what it is .... no, not an XXXXXXXXXXL jersey for DH, guess again!
The princess gets a toy
A story with pictures!
Once upon a time there was a Princess ... (aka Brat Cat)
One day the Princess asked her humom to make her a nice knitted toy ...
"Please make me a nice knitted toy, please, please, pleeeez"
"You feel sleepy, you will make me a nice knitted toy ..."
"I WANT A NICE KNITTED TOY!"
"MY TOY!!"
"MY toy!!"
"DESTROY MY TOY!!"
"Oops ..."
"It is so tiring being a Princess ..."
The End !!
Once upon a time there was a Princess ... (aka Brat Cat)
One day the Princess asked her humom to make her a nice knitted toy ...
"Please make me a nice knitted toy, please, please, pleeeez"
"You feel sleepy, you will make me a nice knitted toy ..."
"I WANT A NICE KNITTED TOY!"
"MY TOY!!"
"MY toy!!"
"DESTROY MY TOY!!"
"Oops ..."
"It is so tiring being a Princess ..."
The End !!
Baby jerseys are such fun to knit
Someone asked me to knit some jerseys for her first grandchild. What fun it was - casting on 20 stitches instead of 120! BTW congratulations Janet on baby Jack ... have fun spoiling him.
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