Three days off.

 I've enjoyed my rostered days off. and Happy to say there were no phone calls asking me to go to work. I got to play with my crochet hook and my knitting needles. I ran out of sock yarn this morning, an hour before the postie called with a package.

Not only a ball of yarn, but also a tea bag and a chocolate. What a sweet surprise. I just might shop there again!

While I was waiting for the postie I picked up my crochet and did some more to that.

There are a couple more wavy colourful stripes since I took this photo.

Mid Winter has been and gone and already I notice that the daylight is appearing just a little earlier. I got a photo this morning.

That red sky in the morning was right, the day was mostly overcast and the rain arrived at about 3 pm. 

A good day to stay indoors and play with my yarn.

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I mentioned in my last post that I was going to have a sort out and take stock of what I have in progress. I made a start on that and the list is not as long as I feared, however I still moved a few things away, leaving out just the focus items. One place I didn't look yet is the 'To Be Quilted' pile.  I'll get to that.

At some point I'll add a WIP tab or similar to the top of my page. (Jo, look what you started! Thank you. LOL). I think the Chookshed list will see some drastic alterations for the final few months and next years will look a little different too. 

So, what made it onto the priority list?

1) The knitted scarf, to be followed by the mohair sweater.

2) The crochet Ripple Blanket.

3) The Christmas ornaments. There are only a few left to complete.

4) The down in the Garden Stitcheries.

That is it, everything else is out of sight for now. That doesn't mean it will stay that way, you know how my muse works, a squirrel hops by and off I go. LOL But I intend to try.

Now I'm off to play with my crochet hook some more. 

Back to work tomorrow.

A whole week has gone by...

 And what do I have to show for it? 

Yet another squirrel and an abandoned project. LOL

But first...

In my last post I mentioned that a squirrel or two had wandered by and that I was very tempted. Well I did it, I bought the mohair yarn! I didn't get the same colour, opting for a beautiful teal instead.

And it is here already. The colour in this image is not right, even though I took the photo under my daylight lamp. There is a little more green in it and it is lighter than it appears here. And very soft and beautiful.  I don't believe I have ever knitted with mohair. Wish me luck.

Next, the abandoned project.

I cannot seem to find a record of it, but last year I purchased a ball of sock yarn and started a project. No not socks... I started a scarf. I recall having issues with it and rip, rip, ripping a good few rows out and picking up all the stitches again, then for what ever reason it was put aside. Well the other night I was looking for needles to go with the mohair and noticed a space in the box. Hmm, those needles are in the sock yarn. So I went hunting and pulled it out again

Progress has been made. 

The free pattern that came with the ball of yarn says there is enough yarn to make the scarf.

I think not, I think I need another ball of yarn if this is to be a big cosy scarf. I hope I can find the same stuff!

And the new squirrel? 

Before the mohair yarn turned up, and before I went looking for knitting needles and after saying I was loving working on the Down in the Garden stitcheries and that I have more than enough going on at the moment........

I started a new scrappy crochet project.

I have a bunch of granny squares sat here but I'm not happy with them, they may be ripped! And besides I wanted something else, so off I went to visit Lucy at Attic 24 and refreshed the memory on  her Neat Ripple and I was off! Hooking away on a new scrappy project.  

What was it I said about getting things finished?

Sigh.

Time, I think for a good tidy up and sort out of what exactly I have as works in progress.

I want and need to get some things completed and out of the picture before starting anything new.

(Fingers crossed behind my back here, I can start the mohair sweater as soon as I complete the scarf. 

Oh and a very special and very secret quilt project that I need before 21st June next year).

Today is the first of my three rostered days off. I'm exhausted, so even if they call, I won't be picking up extra shifts. I'm going to have that good tidy up and write a list of WIPs and must dos.

Top of the list will be to find another ball of the sock yarn. 

July.

 The year is half way gone!
How did that happen?
This month Deanna has selected number 9 for the chookshed challengers. For me that means I have to make a start on an eye spy quilt top.
I have a bundle of fabrics cut ready, I just need to sort out sashing fabrics. 

Problem is... I am really enjoying working on my Down in the Garden stitcheries. My hexies are calling I've acquired another incomplete cross stitch and yesterday not one but two squirrels hopped by.....

I've acquired a bunch of crafty magazines and in the bundle was a pattern for a sweater that my lovely mum made for me back when I was 16-17. I loved it, I wore it out, the elbows were gone and I remember asking Mum if she could fix it. Alas the reply was no.

But here is that very same pattern, in the very same shade of yarn.....

Loulee wants another one!

Mum is no longer here, so I will have to knit my own.

Then Tony got in on the act, he would love a cosy winter jersey please if I'm in the mood to knit..... So I started to look at patterns and yarn for him too. I need more projects like I need a hole in my head, but my fingers are itching for my knitting needles. LOL

Sigh, what's a girl to do? 

PULL HER FINGER OUT AND GET SOMETHING FINISHED!

That's what I'm telling myself anyway. 

I'm off to drool over pretty mohair yarns.....

The June Round Up.

 As you know, the end of the month was taken up with ill health. There are some nasty bugs going around here at the moment and I caught one. It has proven to be quite difficult to shake off. Friends and colleagues have said the same thing.

That aside I did get some quality time in the month of June. Lots of that time was spent dealing with a good harvest of 'Joas as young Master Torstein calls them.  We've had lots of 'Joa muffins and another batch of 'Joa jam. I have some different Feijoa recipes I want to try, hopefully soon. There are still a few fruits on the trees and next time the children are here I'll send them out with buckets or bowls to collect them.

Mid Winter has passed here in the Southern hemisphere, we marked it at work with our Matariki decorations. I was happy to catch an amazing sunrise on the day too.

The camera in my phone did not do it justice.

I was very lucky and acquired some great fabric bargains.

You can see more about them here if you need a reminder. 

I made a few more hexie flowers using up left over fabric pieces.

I completed the cross stitched Bumblebee just before the bug got a propper hold on me.

Then I pulled out my Chookshed challenge and I'm happy to say I made some good progress there.

I completed all of the stitching on this block and have another almost completed.  It is still in the hoop, so I apologise for the scrumpled appearance.

There is just a little more to do on the watering can stitchery.

That leaves only two more blocks I think. Hopefully I will get them completed this month, then I can start to put the top together.

I'm not making any promises though, you know how often squirrels hop through this house. LOL

And finally I shared three recipes with you. They are all easy to find on the recipe tab at the top of my page.

I wonder what number Deanna will call for Julys Chookshed challenge?

Matariki.

 This time of year in New Zealand is all about Matariki. A Maori festival that you can read more about here.

Matariki on Wiki

To celebrate Matariki we have been busy at work with the residents craft group.

Many stars were cut out and coloured, or had glitter added, then Jo the activities lady had me scooting up and down the steps adding them to a big black cloth we had pinned to the wall in the lobby. Of course they had to be in the correct configuration.

The birdbath to the right of the mural is representative of a Tangihanga.  Stones are placed into water as a symbolic way of honouring the dead. It is one of the many customs that are recognised during the mourning process. In recent weeks we have lost a great number of residents, many of them were active members of the craft group and those remaining felt it was a wonderful way to acknowledge their passing.

We also had some of the residents drawing around templates and cutting out feather shapes to make a Kahu huruhuru. The feather cloak worn as a ceremonial garment on special occasions.

In town on Friday evening we had the now traditional night market. It was introduced a few years ago and has become popular. Not so much this year as the weather gods didn't get the memo and it was not only bitterly cold but also pouring with rain.

The Timaru Patchwork and Crafters club were invited to join an exhibition showcasing some of the many clubs here in town.

The lighting was great for looking at the various exhibits, but really not good for photography.

I looked in briefly during the evening and there was a good crowd sheltering from the weather.

The members who were looking after our exhibition said there was a steady stream throughout the evening.

Lots of people looking to get some respite from the weather.

You might recognise one or two items. LOL

We shared the space with the local WI, the spinners and weavers, the embroiderers guild, the wood turners guild and not one but two choirs.

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I'm off work again today. My head cold has made a comeback. 

Are these bugs and viruses getting nastier? Or is it just me?

Anyway, I'm sitting with my needle and thread making more progress on my Chookshed Challenge project.