Barriers to housework

Here's a very good reason to put off the ironing!

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

A knitted bag

Well lookee here...it's a non-felted bag. I made this for a girlfriend, girlfriend. These are her colours. You can see I lined it too. Another first - yep! I have bought lots of beautiful fabric to line bags, but this is the first one I've got 'round to doin'. I think she liked - it was her birthday present- I loved making it for her.. but I guess it's her choice to bury it in the cupboard or wear it. And another first - I got 3 pics up in one hit. One of the pics is the book that I found this pattern in... Emma King's Fun and Funky Accessories. It's got a few things other than just bags...wow I am developing beyond the felted bag..... watch this space baby!!

Pink black tote

I made this for a friend whose signature colour is pink. I used 2 slightly different shades and knitted them together to get the flecked tweedy look.

Patchwork throw

I've sewn it up! But now I've decided it's too small and I'm going to double the size and then put the border on it. I've used 3 separate yarns of 8ply each so it's pretty warm! Great for snuggly under in the cold wet winter weather!

Felted board

Here's another view. I love the colours - I've used Brown Sheep Bulky.

Felted boards

Here is the first felted notice board prior to finishing the border. It's a lot of knitting!

A knitter's conscience...

After a lull in posting I'm all geared up to post some pics
and it's just not a happening thing! Frustration of the nation!

I've been working on multiple projects and trying to find
my knitting mojo again. I am trying to expand beyond bags
which I have a endless fascination with. I am just
immediately drawn to bags. I picked up a book by Emma King
which has lots of knitted accessories and started on a bag - this one
is UNfelted (only my second ever non felted bag) - I'm stepping right
outside my comfort zone but as you can see I'm determined to
stretch myself.

I've had another thought too... I would really like to make every single
pattern in one book. Haha I know what you're thinking - easy just buy
a single pattern book and wolah! mission accomplished. No that would
be cheating....I mean like Stitch'n'bitch Nation or something. I wouldn't
restrict myelf to a time frame - just in my life time!! Is there anyone
out there who thinks like this or seeks to challenge themselve in the same way?
Or am I completely alone?

Gypsy

Here's our latest addition to our family. Gypsy was a stray that started hanging around a month or so ago. She was so half-starved, timid and jumpy and tail-less. She's gone from that to this. She is very sweet.

Nieces

You can see me wearing my scarf - but this pic is really

about showing off my nieces...who I could just "tear ya to pieces" (Jungle Book)

Being an auntie is just the best!

Manos del Uruguay scarf

Here's my Auntie Joy wearing the scarf I made out of Manos del Uruguay.
The colours are to die for. I just love wearing this scarf.

Knitting companion

I found this whilst browsing the web. I didn't know
such a thing existed. Sooo cu-ute! The glasses are the
scissors.

Autumn inspiration

Autumn inspiration

This is the ornamental grape that runs along our fence.

The colours are absolutely fantastic every autumn. I adore
sitting, having a cuppa and looking and absorbing the
colours.

Close ups

Help! I need some computer literate person to
help me with my blog skills. These latest projects
were so fun to make. I designed the bag, modelled
on my favourite fabric tote. I'm interested to see
how it felts - hopefully it won't drag on the floor so
much.

The belt - I am such a dunderhead. I have a bit of
a problem reading patterns sometimes and I
always blame the book etc. I emailed Debbie Stoller
with a query because mine doesn't look like the
pattern. Thanks to another knitting buddy who sorted
me out my next belt will look like the pattern!

I think I'm going through the whole "is the blog too
self indulgent" phase. But then I've told very few
people about it. I enjoy it and what it does most for
me is that somehow it motivates me to keep exploring
my creative side which brings me so much joy - second
only to my daughters, who are my absolute joy. It's
a good way of tracking my development.

What ... a bag!

Modelling

Production line

Here's the latest of my marsupial totes. Pink and black, otn is a brown and green one.

Knit Witch 2006

Harry Potter eat your heart out!

I wondering if I need a sticker that reads "
my other car is a Subaru" ?

My broomstick

Guess who?

Another of my many many works in progress!! Current title
Girl with a pink earring!

Bags galore

Another one from my collection. I'm wondering
if I have obsessive compulsive tendencies?

Knitted patchwork

I've been a bit slack on the blogging
front lately. Just life getting in the
way I guess. Very busy in all
directions. This is a throw I made before
I sewed it up. Now that I have sewn
it up I think it's too small so I'm going
to double the size of it. It's an Erika
Knight pattern.

Shadow's first party

Introducing Shadow! Shadow went off to his first ever birthday party. Neighbour Millie turned 1. He had a wonderful time and particularly loved the birthday food. Milly wore him out - the 40 year age gap was showing at the end - either that or Millie had a LOT more red cordial!

Striped happiness

Felted knitty tote

Refer previous post 15 March...this is the felted result

Art night

I can sing a rainbow

And my obsession with
granny square rugs
continues.....

Another medium

Last birthday Mum and my sister Helen gave me a gift voucher for painting lessons. Here is one of the paintings. It is inspired (copied) from a Margaret Preston painting. I - along with Mum and Helen went to an exhibition of MP in Melbourne in January. She is one of my favourite Australian painters. I particularly love her wood blocks and linocuts.

Mother daughter pair

So here are a couple of bags in the same colourways in different sizes.
I loved making the random stripes, just changing colour when I felt like it or the scrap wool ran out!

Knitty striped tote

Knitting this was really fun, round and round. The colours are so cheerful I couldn't help but smile as I knitted. I've just finished the handles so it's ready to felt. I think I might do another one in Christmassy colours. They might look really fun hanging over the fireplace next Xmas - don't ya think?

Bag Corner

Here's where all my bags spend some time hanging out after they've been made. It's a corner of my bedroom. I think of it as my inspiration space. Looking at finished products somehow is a positive reinforcement reminder. I am so very busy, working full time, raising 2 beautiful girls, being a partner and wanting to spend so much more time indulging in the creative arts than I do that having visible evidence of some personal achievements is a good thing. Aside from that I just love colour. Colour is therapy in itself. What you can't see in the photo is my bookshelf - filled with knitting and art books. I often flick through one just before I fall asleep dreaming of....possibilities....endless possibilities....such a thrill!

"Maggs" bag

This is my second "Maggs" bag - nearly ready to come OTN - just the Kitchener stitch to go! I love knitting in Noro Kureyon and watching the striping appear. My first bag was was in gorgeous blues, purples and emeralds. This bag has a more "earthy" feel to it.

Pink Throw

I mentioned in an earlier post that I was working on a pink version of the blue blanket...well here 'tis! I have made it a bit bigger than the baby size so as my daughter is now 10! It is so lovely to snuggle under or it will be when the weather cools down!

I have picked the trim for the edging - that's the pretty Liberty print material in the photo.

Bags galore

This is another bag from SNB - I just added

a couple of crocheted flowers.

It's my only non felted bag!

Felt Bag

Here is my first attempt at the Marsupial Tote from Stitch'n'Bitch. It was the second bag I made and felted. I used Lamb's Pride as the pattern said. My fuzzy lime bag raises a few comments whenever I'm toting it around... I've made a few in other colours....about 15 I think but who's counting?

Gift set

This is a gift set I made for my nephew. All patterns from Erika Knight's book Baby Bloom. The blanket is in Big Wool and is so soft and warm. I have nearly finished another one for my daughter in ...pink, of course! I'm just having trouble finding ribbon for the edging!

I'm not quite sure what happened with the booties - I thought I was making the left bootie and ended up with the right. Then started on the next one and the same thing happened so I ended up with a pair but in the reverse order! Testament to the fact that things usually work out as they should!

Crochet rug

further evidence

Previous works

Here is the evidence of my crochet "granny" knee rug phase....it took me a few to move on to my next phase...

Hey!

Here I am!

I think I realised I was an addict when..... my sister told me to "Step away from the washing machine". I can't do it. I LOVE the felting process.