Pretties

Hi everyone,

Contrary to popular belief, I am still alive and plugging along. Have exam tomorrow so am enjoying the procrastination. I had the perfect post a couple of weeks ago, then got lazy and failed to upload proper photos/get permissions. However here is a quick recap.

The beginning of the month spinner's guild had a (surprisingly large, well placed) spot at the first ever Textile Art Festival. I was the organiser of said space which meant being flat out on my feet all day talking to people, and thanks to the support of the people who helped me run the stall, it was an absolute blast, I loved it, even if, by doing so, I spoke more in three days than I had in about a month. Insanity of the fun variety. Here are pics of the stall as taken by another member (sorry they are so small, this was the only size that flickr would let me steal).








After the first day, instead of doing the sensible thing and having a nice night in, I went out. Much fun was had. The Saturday I went out, but for even more fun. Y'see, one of my sister's flatmates was having his 21st party (awwwww) and to really have some fun, it was decided a gangster theme was the thing. The men wore suits, suspenders and smoked cigars, the ladies found their finest garb and spent hours in the bathroom. While it was technically 1920's ish gangster (think the movie 'Some Like it Hot') I found the cutest dress that was really more of a 1950s style in an op shop (for $3!!!!) so I wore that. This pic I think is one of my favourites of me, sweet sassy and wearing faaaar too much mascara.




Anyway, thatis something for now. I've been spinning and dyeing like a mad woman (who knew that I could spin and read/listen to lectures at the same time? Nuts!) so will naturally need to set up a photoshoot of some description for that.

adios!

That's egg on your face!

Or, on your shirt. I bought this brooch the other week from the local markets which I can't help think is the funniest thing ever.



Who says you shouldn't play with your food eh?

On another note, look what I designed and made! Designed after having about 3hours sleep (thanks a lot, cat) and needing to quickly make a neckwarmer for a friend in an exchange. The colour is absolutely not my colour, but given that the whole shebang is just 2x2 rib with twisted rib, I think it looks quite striking.

The whole shebang.


Closeup of the pattern.

I reckon the buttonholes need revision, but given that I'm definitely making a second version of this (would I be the only nutter wanting this recipe?), that shouldn't be a problem.

It has occured to me that I haven't taken pics of the handspun I've been producing lately. So here is just a bunch of photos of yarn. Tasty, delicious yarn!



Adios!



p.s. Also, I shall be at the upcoming Textile Art Festival for the duration of the festival. I will be wearing my rav badge, come up and say hi!!

p.p.s Almost forgot! I finally added a big, crazy pompom to my carrot hat! See!!

Blimey!

I have just seen that it was February 8 when I last updated this thing. Oy and vey. Slackarama on my part, I apologise. Life, as they say, has been topsy turvy as of late, and the trend seems set to continue. However, as I deem this stuff to be in the realm 'not your beeswax, nerny nerny ner ner'. I present you pics of a hat I made, using only the dodgiest of dodgy on hand, and pictures of alpacas, taken on Saturday.



Twisted stitches!



Can't you just smell the lumpy texture?

For reasons you may figure out, I have decided to call this my carrot hat, as it rather reminds me of a carrot emerging from the ground. I am thinking a huge honking pompom on the top using the last of the yarn might be the perfect touch. What do you reckon?



Check this out, 'Jewish alpaca does not eat pork'. See the brown patch on his head? I'm calling that a yarmulke. Because who says livestock can't pursue religion?

Itsy Bitsy Alpaca! This guy was born on Anzac day, he was definitely the perfect size to stow in a vehicle, y'know... so he can mow the lawn... that's right.... (also: I love my camera)



Unison alpacas look pensive, in unison. (Oh the scalding wit! How can you handle it?!)



No witticisms here, I just like that they are both the same colour and eating at the same time.

Looks like I forgot to upload photos of 'the stud'. I just love saying 'the stud' in the sleaziest voice possible. Makes me think I'm cool.

Anyway, adios for now!

Your regularly scheduled update

In which there is nothing to report. Joy. Well, no CRAFTY things to report. Mainly thus:
- I have a new job (yay!), being an administration assistant. Work isn't as interesting as library, but the pay, waaay better.
- The social life that comes with being in briz is fun, but a little draining. 2 nights plus a fortnight is a huge change from going out once a fortnight plus the occasional afternoon tea with a friend. I can't wait to get used to it.
- Spinning camp at Bornhoffen (I have no idea where it is either) this coming weekend is going to be BRILLIANT. So brilliant I believe all of the participants are wishing friday afternoon was here already. I'm looking forward to a weekend of workshops, socialising, shopping and being in a position where no one wants the top bunk. Except me. I get to sleep in a top bunk!!!
- craft wise, I'm working on a rather large something for my swap partner for the favourite colours swap on rav. It grows larger and larger, and I'm hoping my swap partner loves it more than anything in the whole widest world. If she doesn't love it. It's mine, dag nammit.

Night all!

Quell Horreur! An FO!

Hello everyone! I have finally decided that having finished a project, it would probably be a nice thing to actually show it off. Even if it does need blocking and the ends woven in..

May I present: Bad Penny with ribbing!



The original pattern didn't have under the bust ribbing and very little shaping in the pattern, which works well for some body types, less so for me. I followed someone else's modification and did 2x2 ribbing from under the bust to my desired length. Because I could also try this sucker on, I could get second and third opinions about the length as well.



This twisted part is what happens when the pattern tells me to knit and I knit. I was taught to think the reverse of everyone else does. My knit is purl and vice versa. I decided to make this a design feature instead of ripping.



Just look how good this baby goes with my shawl!

Now because I'm cheap and decided to use cheap yarn (pallette yarn on special for $2) which is pure wool, it is scratchy as hell. I'm thinking of soaking in hair conditioner to soften it up. For anyone in the know, does this work? Is there anything I can do to this yarn to make it wearable against the skin? Or will I be have to wear a singlet underneath?

All in all, this project took about a month to do on 5mm needles. easy, customisable and enjoyable.

In other news, I have just scored a job trial, so with any luck I'll be employed for at least three months = money!!

Adios!

Home sweet home

Hi everyone!

I'm not sure if I have blabbed in previous posts or not, but I have moved and am officially a Brisvegas gal now. While I haven't really done much in the way of spinning or knitting (a bit of fleece and a shiteload of washcloths), this means nothing really of consequence to post. However since this IS the internet (where no-one can hear you scream), here are a few wee shots of my new place/evidence of having made myself really at home.



Toby has really settled in! Never before has a cat had so much freedom and time to snooze on the deck in the sun. It's a tough life, but some cat has to do it.



'The wall'. My bedroom wall with ephemera I've either been sent, or have found myself. I love receiving postcards of exotic locales, and some of the postcards have been picked up on my travels too. Home sweet home.

Okay This is the lamest post yet. But hopefully it's just twee.

Later lovelies!

A quickie for the road...

Hi Everyone!

My usual fortnightly post. Hope you had a fun christmas day, and hope the hangovers weren't flowing tooo freely!

Firstly. While I can't stand the smell and taste of seafood, it IS an Australian tradition, one that my sister and mother participated in with relish.



'nuff said. I had an awesome day with my sister and mother, with the margaritas flowing, deep philosophical (for drunk people) topics discussed, it was lots of fun.

Secondly. I made felted soaps. Something I think non-crafty peops and crafty people alike can share in. Using this tutorial, which I think is a standard tutorial among people trying this for the first time.

What do you reckon? Three of these already have homes - well one went to the sis, one is a birthday present and one is for a swap partner and the last one is for me. Honey soap (presents mum received but didn't want). What I found worked best is a combination of the following.

1. Wear rubber gloves so that you
2. Can have boiling water. The grips on the gloves really add the the felting action and speed the whole process up.
3. Also, handdyeds bleed when boiling hot water flows, so next time, stick to the commercial fibres.

Close-ups! Click for a better view.




Moving is going steadily. The last ten days have been promised to be the killer ones. As is, I'm living on survival rations of clothing, my fibre/yarn stash is in the new home (survival rations of knitting and fibre) and anything that isn't in a box will be by Wednesday. Also, the house is now filled with all thing carbs, because for some reason, the non-carbohydrate thingies seem to get eaten first. I'm definitely dreading the last few days where food will be entirely fast food / non-homecooked. Unless there is someone REALLY lovely out there who fancies bringing over some soup/anything with veges next week?

Have a good new years, take care, don't spend all your $$ at the new years sales!

adios

I can haz shawl?

Apologies for not posting in over a month. Pure laziness on my part. Between finishing uni for the year (YAY!) to looking for a new job (not yay!) to spinning something that looks remarkably close to 5ply, and I'm calling it my first laceweight (Yay again!), I've just felt to slack to post.

That said, this shawl keeps looking me in the eye, and begging me for a few moments of glory.

Firstly: Blocking


This thing took up the whole of the teensy laundry space, so no room for stretching.



Cute stitch no?




Edge-a-licious!




Action shots!

Ttfn, got to get back to packing boxes. *sigh* the joys of moving!

adios

Hardy and co.

Hey everyone! Hope you are well!

I'm trying to make an effort to post more often (doing this between cleaning atm). Thought I'd drop a line.

I received my package from the lovely srthnx for the No Sheep for you swap in Ravelry. Among the lovely things I received, I got a Quant head band (can't be bothered linking, look in knitty). Check this bag, all done up with snaps!

And stitch markers and chocolate. My partner is a lovely reminder of why I love to do swaps, I would never have picked to use sari yarn for me or anyone (yet I have three skeins in the stash... hmm) but my headband has already gotten loads of compliment and I'm hanging out for a chance to show off the clutch...the chocolates also went down a treat after a long day. What's not to love?

Also sending (and hopefully receiving) a tacky ornament in the tacky ornament swap in the Lazy, Stupid and Godless board in Ravelry. Will show as soon as I finish/receive something.

Meet my brand new pal, Hardy. I needed a (tax deductible WOO!) hard drive, mainly so I could move my pictures and start backing up my uni things. This 640 gig monster the biggest USB I've EVER had lol.



adios!

This post brought to you by...

Jelly!


This is jelly I made from scratch (well, I didn't make my own gelatin, but aside from that...) from a 1950s recipe ages ago. Adding berries made it eating an experience that could only be described as ethereal.

I'm posting a picture of jelly for the following reasons:
1 - I have been making swap things and dodgy spinning, ergo - nothing to report
2 - Don't you just love my messy desktop?
3 - between uni and applying for jobs, I have honestly been too flat out to give a toss about much else.

adios!

Employers: Please employ me and pay me lots of money. I am friendly and nice and I'm over job hunting. Really.

baa

Chez librarylass has been so flat out that I've not updated dear bloggy dear in nearly a month! Quell horreur!

Stupid assignments keeping me running *grumble grumble grumble*

look at pretty pictures of jelly and handspun!



mmm silk!

mmm merino silk!

baaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

adios!

Brain dead

Hey everyone! I am safely back home and had a huge post with loads of pics mentally lined up. Then, yesterday I got a raging case of the flu. So, until I feel human again, here is a quick run through.

Perth is awesome, the shops close at 5pm on the dot (bleuch) but the free public transport system is great.
I saw (in no particular order):
- Lots of Perth river, some incredible ye olde architecture and the ever awesome London style alley right in the middle of the CBD,
- Museum, which I find overwhelmingly brilliant because there is a old style museum room complete with more taxidermied things than you shake the proverbial stick out. Also more old-style architecture with dinosaurs (witty captions/pics to come) and I also was there when a primary school group went through. Their squeals of delight (and for some, terror) when they saw the dinosaurs made things more fun.
- Kings Park, which is a beautiful spot, again, right near the CBD. A market was on, and to discover a plant with my last name on it was pretty cool.
- City Farm, an organic co-operative right beside a rail line was pretty fun. Also the odd person who talked to me on the free buses, where I learnt their opinions and pointed out local attractions was fun as fun can be.

Okay that's it for now, I'm going to bury my head in ice and hope this bastard flu goes away.

adios

Bleuch

Hi everyone!

Good news, since my last post (almost a month ago! GAH!) I have completed two assignments, which, by the end probably did a less than spectacular job on, but stuffit, over it!. I have also completed a few minor, rather secret projects, which, given how long it takes me to complete ANYTHING is a miracle in itself.

Also I've been on a sock yarn buying binge, which is really weird for someone who doesn't knit socks. However I'm convinced that the firestarter socks (Rav link) will be the ones that break me in. My theory being that I've started top down socks before and gotten bored/sick of teensy needles, toe up will stand a better chance because I can try on as I go, and also I happen to have aforementioned metric tonne of sock stash to choose from.

Onto some pretty pictures. Here is something I CAN show you.
Meet my teacosy. At present I am still tossing up names for this baby, either 'dready-ful tea cosy'. 'rainbow barf' or for the psychedelia that just won't quit 'duuuuuuude'. I'd also offer a prize for best name, but I ain't parting with my stash for nobody *eyes everyone suspiciously*


Look what mum found when she was doing a major bout of spring cleaning!



This is a tile I made in grade eight, On it is our previous cat, Coco (aka the most patient puss on the planet!,) music note, skirt and email. Nice to know that even in grade eight I was an email addict.

And finally, I'm off at sparrow fart to go to Perth tomorrow! I can't wait to spend a week on the other side of the continent, where I plan to meet the infamous Inoriz and her little girl, and check out the sights and sounds of the area. I simply cannot wait!

So, till at least next week, I bid thee adieu!

p.s. I'm planning to fly QANTAS on the way home, can you please send me non-burning food/safe travel vibes? I'd be ever so grateful! Might even be choccys in it for you ;)

The award for twit of the day goes to.....

Me. Because I thought my camera was broken and that the flash had died, so I drove 40mins (1 hour round trip) to find out that someone (not me) had accidentally turned off the flash setting. As in, the lady at the repair place took wee camera to the fixing-up blokes, who turned it on and solved the problem in <2 seconds.

Ouchy embarrassed me. On the plus side though, there is $55 I don't have to pay!

adios

I may or may not be procrastinating...

Okay I am actually procrastinating. Sadly, I have this horrible habit when I get stressed to dig my heels in and stick my head in the sand. You may discern that this isn't terribly conducive to getting said stressy things out of the road. I'm fighting it, but may or may not needs lots of caffeinated tea to survive the process.

Tea brings me to my next point, which is tea cosies, of which I have a need for, so today whilst I was pretending-not-to-procrastinate-while-I-actually-was I picked out a book I bought a while ago, Wild Tea Cosies Which is written by a Qld'er, and uses commercial and handspun stuff. Love! A bit of research (read: Stalking) and I've found her blog with various physics defying cosies and her flickr stream, which is also a nice slice of awesome. P.S. Loani, if you happen to be reading this stalkerish post, HI!!!!!. So now that

Fortunately I will be starting a crochet cosy soon, for devine providence has provided me with: nearly finishing a super secret project, much thanks to having to be a passenger to some looong car trips yesterday, and the magic combination of stashy handspun, the wild tea cosy book and a craving for teh crochet. I've also been frogging some wips lately, so yay! Cleaner conscience for me!

If you are wondering why I sound even more batty than usual, its because I've had faaar too much strong tea, which does have a tendency to make me a little nuts when confined to small spaces.

Finally, Big news. I am moving to Brisvegas next year. Mum got a much-wanted work transfer there, and unless I want to pay exhorbitant rent on what constitutes my wage, I'll need to move too. Which means major work on spiffing up my qualifications, and applying for jobs and doing two uni subjects whilst working full time. Not entirely sure I'll come out of this gig with my sanity intact, especially while I have the mum is nagging me over stuff, and while she's stressed she's no fun to live with, and while I'm stressed, I'm even less fun to live with. Prepare your bomb shelters people, this could get ugly.

adios for now!

Old and new

Hey All!

Just a couple of pics from the weekend.

Old

Back story: this is the first hat I ever knitted when I first started knitting (my first knitting book: hip knits by Judith Schwartz, still an awesome book and still in my bookshelf). I'm guessing the yarn is acrylic, and the white stuff I know I found in an opshop. It doesn't cling to my head per say, but I did learn 'decorative decreases' (read: k2tog)


New:

On the school holidays, the only bloke in spinning guild decided to host a weaving workshop, having nothing better to do on the hols, I went. The weaving part was fun, the hauling around the loom part sucked (this thing was huge and lived in my car after I had done as much weaving as I could). This weekend, the bloke decided to show up for more thank 2 seconds, and patiently helped me take this scarf off the loom. Picture time! Look at the pretty colours! And the fact that it needs a bath to relax, and maybe a crocheted edging to cover my beginner's mistakes....






That's all for now!

Adios!