tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11150053842881677792024-03-21T02:06:13.599+11:00knitabulousand her yarnsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger274125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-23606885632345410932013-01-02T14:48:00.001+11:002013-01-02T14:49:43.924+11:00And so it continued by day and by nightWe didn't have room for a tree, so we improvised.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8335465745/" title="it's kind of a christmas tree by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8079/8335465745_345a00ac62_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="it's kind of a christmas tree"></a><br />
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There was lots of wonderful food.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8336509936/" title="duck with pineapple by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8364/8336509936_8f38e4487f_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="duck with pineapple"></a><br />
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And the usual cougar activities. This year we toasted schoolies 1985 with a west coast cooler.Yech!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8336501834/" title="westcoast represent by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8082/8336501834_7439ee5c52_z.jpg" width="640" height="381" alt="westcoast represent"></a><br />
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And then I got them all ready to leave me for 14 days.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8335429987/" title="ready to go by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8499/8335429987_10ce6835e4_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="ready to go"></a><br />
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On New Year's Day I woke up without any trace of hangover, and did my first mini triathlon runthrough with my sister. We jogged to Sandon Point Surf Club, swam round the bouys, jogged back to her house, got on the bikes, rode to Towradgi and back, then ran up over the hill to Thirroul beach and back again where I practically died.<br />
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My husband insisted on going to IKEA after that, so we schlepped it up there in the heat of the afternoon and stayed there until 9 o clock at night! I really hate IKEA generally, but husband loves it. Anyway, we got some stuff done and I'm hoping not to have to go back there anytime soon. <br />
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2012 was pretty huge for me - the renovations came into full swing, I enrolled in a distance education course but failed to even start it (I am so ashamed of myself), my son sufferred a severely broken leg and won't be able to walk for 4 months, my daughter finished primary school and so a whole new chapter of her life begins in 2013. I worried about parenting and my children's wellbeing more in 2012 than I have since they're birth. I also learned that worry alone achieves nothing.<br />
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I exercised so much I hardly knitted anything. From my family, I recieved absolutely nothing for my birthday, not even a card - and I didn't think I cared about that but I did. I was hurt by people and it took me completely by suprise - I thought I was immune to emotion. I made mistakes. I grew. I shrunk! <br />
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And 2012 is now gone, and in 2013 I will be closer to 50 than I am to 40. Maybe I'll do that course, I'm definitely going to achieve some fitness goals (even though I think/thought people with fitness goals are wankers). I'd like to travel more in 2013 with my family, and I really need to get proper glasses so I can knit on the couch at night. I'd love to get those dyepots out again, maybe even a new name for the yarn business. Whatever it brings, I think I'm ready.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-4810901889429560422012-12-22T19:41:00.003+11:002012-12-22T19:41:45.359+11:00Sunset Boulevarde<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hey groovers - I finished another thing!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8296635648/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="colour beams 4 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="colour beams 4" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8501/8296635648_4dd2aed436_c.jpg" /></a></div>
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A while ago I said that I thought I'd never again knit another triangular shawl. I felt over them, and whenever I wear one, I feel a bit weird.<br />
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However, I didn't say I wouldn't crochet another one one, did I?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8295603289/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="colour beams 1 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="colour beams 1" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8496/8295603289_b77952e3e4_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This took a long time to finish because I stopped working on it. In actual crochet time, it was a bit of a snap really.<br />
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Pattern: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/colour-beams---rayons-de-couleur" target="_blank">Rayon De Couleurs </a><br />
Designer:<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/eclatdusoleil" target="_blank"> Eclat duSoleil</a> *(great name huh?)<br />
My Ravelry Project Page: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitabulous/colour-beams---rayons-de-couleur">Colour Beams</a>
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Pattern Notes: I didn't do anything except follow the pattern until my yarn ran out. It took a full ball of the fuschia mix, and about 3/4 of the purple mix.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8295592413/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="colour beams 3 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="colour beams 3" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8358/8295592413_8535eef984_c.jpg" /></a></div>
Really fun and addictive kind of project, and the alternating row that tricks the eye into thinking it's striped is GENIUS.<br />
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And now, as soon as I type this, I begin my Christmas cooking. Being one of the few people I know who has actual culinary responsibilities this time of year, I'm looking forward to a menu of glazed ham, turducken (the ALDI equivalent anyway), roast pork, all manner of salads, quinoia fritters, black forest ripple cake (my experiment) and a wonderful cocktail I got from the delicious <a href="http://www.taste.com.au/delicious/" target="_blank">delicious</a> magazine, the negroni sparkler - described as a christmas cocktail for the cynical. <br />
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Bring it Santa!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8295598585/" title="colour beams 2 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="colour beams 2" height="535" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8352/8295598585_8a6b4890bd_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-60292888549164338982012-12-09T20:30:00.001+11:002012-12-09T20:30:23.023+11:00So, how's the house going?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I get asked this question all the time. For a long time I didn't have much of a response, because the work mysteriously seemed to have ceased. It's an unfortunate consequence of having a job that is being completed by a builder in his spare time.<br />
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This situation has changed a little in recent weeks. In fact, it's all going at a breakneck pace and it's possible (fingers crossed) that I'll have a functional sliding door out to the new deck and the frame for the new rooms in situ by Christmas.<br />
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The re-modelling of the layout of the single garage into wardrobe, ensuite and another bathroom has been completed, pending skirting and cornice. Then comes the fitting out stage. I can't take a photo in there because of the piles of plastic tubs, brooms, mops, stepladders, and storage boxes that have already been stacked up, <br />
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It's scary what a mess it's been, and still is. But I can see it coming together now, and it's a really great feeling. Dad is using a block based building system that is very quick - you build a foundation layer, and providing it's level, the rest of the layers go up reasonably quickly. I even did a few courses myself, which was extremely satisfying! And today, I weilded a sledgehammer and took out a whole wall of bricks!<br />
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Here's a few progess shots of the back - it's coming together isn't it?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cjH4ECKH4jrF5Ci5cPveBpZVen_DSXYIB2u8Yvny_mGcKcK1HYhPnvD3PWmNbQ2_ehyR_j74tl2a1PyzrNb1-wJ-HUNerTRvafPlNXrsdXATom6kt5OkDFUz7PH78NNGP3TMPCW_E6l7/s1600/2010-01-01+12.32.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cjH4ECKH4jrF5Ci5cPveBpZVen_DSXYIB2u8Yvny_mGcKcK1HYhPnvD3PWmNbQ2_ehyR_j74tl2a1PyzrNb1-wJ-HUNerTRvafPlNXrsdXATom6kt5OkDFUz7PH78NNGP3TMPCW_E6l7/s640/2010-01-01+12.32.11.jpg" width="480" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoLraUDwwvNypcPS3AFshcNlHxxgZ976NLCLtdsIzlb1WvXQrf0Ykb9708LaijZ1Vt26v6ZbDbscFtbku-ec_qUTWqB3NNEdlGJ0xyhoQQjl4IkS0ORjUWsyaBC5cm3Wxj7EcHOs2HxS7/s1600/2010-01-01+12.30.34-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoLraUDwwvNypcPS3AFshcNlHxxgZ976NLCLtdsIzlb1WvXQrf0Ykb9708LaijZ1Vt26v6ZbDbscFtbku-ec_qUTWqB3NNEdlGJ0xyhoQQjl4IkS0ORjUWsyaBC5cm3Wxj7EcHOs2HxS7/s640/2010-01-01+12.30.34-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmmkqdxu_FKcN8PUG4DEWMGkXlpIHIhXNkNWRhauZURsJMfxKvskap5uyFJnzH3u93jRVCDrLE47K4B8AwwtD0jTm21VuBTbGTxWVL4idnLEPE0xP4tKHbMlK2Zm0eknJcAcA3g2bPYtF/s1600/2010-01-01+12.32.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmmkqdxu_FKcN8PUG4DEWMGkXlpIHIhXNkNWRhauZURsJMfxKvskap5uyFJnzH3u93jRVCDrLE47K4B8AwwtD0jTm21VuBTbGTxWVL4idnLEPE0xP4tKHbMlK2Zm0eknJcAcA3g2bPYtF/s640/2010-01-01+12.32.39.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCu1FiQiMRw_1khthphi12_ZrysWdpH0Vj-so_2OlB2u9ZcihroW0xUk3XZkeg5ORo9Di1rmQd2ibe59N_-RxgpTWnEkXB6Fn9uKKV8E4X7pB5o9vdNyvLn5MYQ6lq_WaIQjAdAxYFl2N9/s1600/2010-01-01+12.38.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCu1FiQiMRw_1khthphi12_ZrysWdpH0Vj-so_2OlB2u9ZcihroW0xUk3XZkeg5ORo9Di1rmQd2ibe59N_-RxgpTWnEkXB6Fn9uKKV8E4X7pB5o9vdNyvLn5MYQ6lq_WaIQjAdAxYFl2N9/s640/2010-01-01+12.38.19.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And it's that time of the year again. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-89392176885646165152012-12-04T12:38:00.001+11:002012-12-04T12:49:47.740+11:00Billabong<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Nothing finished for months, and then 3 things done in November! I'm just finishing stuff all over the place.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8243299934/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="billabong 4 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="billabong 4" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8060/8243299934_18cd5269fd.jpg" /></a></div>
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I got an email (I bet you did too) from <a href="http://www.jannettesrareyarns.co.uk/calmer-special-offer.html" target="_blank">Janette's Rare Yarns</a> offering some long discontinued bags of Rowan Calmer at a bargain price. I was so excited to see they had preen in stock, because usually it's the orange which I probably wouldn't wear. Anyhow, I grabbed a bagful.<br />
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As usual, it arrived from the UK quite quickly. Not as quickly as it has in the past, but still pretty quick. I wanted to use it straight away, so I cast on for another <a href="http://katedaviesdesigns.com/tag/manu-pattern/" target="_blank">manu</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8243309170/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="billabong 5 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="billabong 5" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8198/8243309170_c931586ec4.jpg" width="334" /></a></div>
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It became apparent that the manu was not to be, so it morphed into a bottom up raglan cardigan. Then I added two panels in the front like this beautiful <a href="http://rokoknit.blog93.fc2.com/blog-entry-8.html" target="_blank"> augmented Summer Solstice</a>, but that didn't look right either.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8242260169/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="billabong 6 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="billabong 6" height="334" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8210/8242260169_eb623d6bab.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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I ripped it back and added a panel in the front to make it an a line pullover. The neckline looked so nice with the points coming together that I decided to add a hood, also radiating out from the centre of the neckline.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8243279800/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="billabong 3 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="billabong 3" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8066/8243279800_b46b2e4fff.jpg" width="334" /></a></div>
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This was knit entirely without pattern, but I incorporated all my favourites - i-cord edging, bottom up raglan shaping, waist shaping, 3/4 sleeves (I'm always slopping long sleeves in the sink or catching them on doorknobs). I did a hood for the first time.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8242276439/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="billabong 7 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="billabong 7" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8488/8242276439_e152e80f16.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
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And because the central panel was an afterthought, I knitted it separately and carefully seamed on so as to be invisible in the joins. I tried several other methods of making the centre triangle, but in the end it worked better to just knit a triangle and matress stitch it on.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8243348236/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="billabong 8 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="billabong 8" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8060/8243348236_734f51b7a4.jpg" width="334" /></a></div>
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I'm pretty pleased with it, what do you think?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8242279505/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="billabong 6 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="billabong 6" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8065/8242279505_6a06fe2e17.jpg" /> </a></div>
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Project Notes:</div>
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Pattern: None</div>
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Ravelry Project Page: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitabulous/b-i-l-l-a-b-o-n-g" target="_blank">Billabong</a></div>
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Yarn: <a href="http://www.jannettesrareyarns.co.uk/calmer-special-offer.html" target="_blank">Rowan Calmer</a></div>
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(sadly discontinued, specials still available at Janette's Rare Yarns) </div>
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Colourway: Slosh</div>
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Needle:3.75mm</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-31374781701674992532012-12-01T19:03:00.000+11:002012-12-01T19:03:16.876+11:00woodward windwood<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's a rare event that I ever knit the same thing twice, and I'm not even sure how this happened. I appear to have finished another windward scarf. Which is fortunate, because my mother snaffled the one from my previous post the instant she laid eyes on it, and won't let it go. She won't even let me block it for her.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8234472580/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="windward woodward 2 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="windward woodward 2" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8060/8234472580_6d3e604b92.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
Project notes much the same as before:<br />
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<b>Pattern:</b> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/windward-2" target="_blank">Windward</a> by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/heidi-kirrmaier" target="_blank">Heidi Kirrmaier</a> </div>
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<b>My Ravelry Project Page</b>: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitabulous/windward-2" target="_blank">W O O D W A R D </a></div>
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<b>Yarn</b>: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/noro-silk-garden-sock" target="_blank">Noro Sekku</a> Colour 6</div>
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<b>Needle</b>: 3.75 mm</div>
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<b>Modifications</b>: None </div>
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<b>Project Notes:</b></div>
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It's a lot less like a bright rag than the sekku one, the noro silk
garden sock I used is much more substantial a wrap. The colours are much
more muted, rendolent of a rainforest floor. Lovely.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8233459955/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="woodward windward 1 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="woodward windward 1" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8209/8233459955_a4aed8bfa1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-66341235132412815862012-11-07T11:45:00.001+11:002012-11-07T13:30:16.494+11:00A thousand little pieces<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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One of the things about building from scratch is the multitude of tiny little details that crop up at every step. Little things like needing the exact location of the waste pipe in the back of the toilet today when you haven't even bought it yet. Things like not realising until after the plumbing is done that you can't have a wall hung vanity if your drain is going through the floor. Things like how close to the wall does the bath need to be in order for the water coming out of your fancy bath spout to go into the bath and not splash everywhere.</div>
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Anyway, all these little decisions are indicative of there being progress on the job, which is exciting. And I quite like the little decisions - some people find them stressful but I quite enjoy it.</div>
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In a classic Fortunately, Unfortunately situation - my son fell badly up at scout camp on Friday night and fractured his shin straight through. Nasty! We're seeing the doctor on Monday and I'm really hoping for a quick recover but everything I read on the internet about this kind of injury fills me with dread. Poor guy, he's got a cast from groin to toe, it's going to be a long summer for all of us.</div>
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I had a bit of time to finish a little knit while I was waiting endlessly in the hospital on the weekend (now there's a system that needs to be redesigned from first principles - talk about communication barriers, inefficiency and stupid demarcation).</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8162733969/" title="windward by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="windward" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7118/8162733969_d6625ef17c.jpg" width="334" /></a></div>
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<strong>Pattern:</strong> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/windward-2" target="_blank">Windward</a> by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/heidi-kirrmaier" target="_blank">Heidi Kirrmaier</a> </div>
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<strong>My Ravelry Project Page</strong>: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitabulous/windward" target="_blank">W I N D W A R D </a></div>
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<strong>Yarn</strong>: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/noro-sekku" target="_blank">Noro Sekku</a> Colour 6</div>
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<strong>Needle</strong>: 4mm </div>
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<strong>Modifications</strong>: None </div>
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<strong>Project Notes:</strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/8162762838/" title="windward by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="windward" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7137/8162762838_4433e4332c.jpg" width="334" /></a> </div>
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I love the way it looks like an ancient flag left to fade in the sun and be whipped by the wind into raggedy shreds. Another great design by the wonderful Heidi Kirrmaier - I love all her work.</div>
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I don't love that it takes a tiny bit more than a skein of yarn to finish - very annoying to dip into a second expensive skein for about 5g of yarn.</div>
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I also find it poses a wearability problem - it's difficult to artfully drape it around one's neck and show off the lovely nooks and crannies in the design. It's very very long, so needs a few wraps around the neck and the soft fabric folds around the neck and the lovely details are a bit lost. </div>
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Still, the colour is great and I can see myself getting a lot of wear out of it because it's so vibrant. It's a real statement accessory that's for sure.</div>
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It was a co-incidence that I chose this colourway for this scarf and then found that it was the same as my favourite of the existing projects. But it's such a great colourway, I'm going to chalk it up to great minds thinking alike. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="windward" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7109/8162607837_a57e5657a8.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="334" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windward</td></tr>
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And I liked it so much I am knitting another one in a different noro yarn. </div>
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Take care people.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-58497025267999301362012-09-14T15:42:00.000+10:002012-09-14T16:02:13.921+10:00APOLOGIES IF YOU'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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(NSW Knitter's Guild members .. you are not experiencing dejavu)<br />
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I’ve been doing a bit of crochet research lately. One technique
I’ve found fascinating is this tunisian style crochet done with an ordinary crochet
hook. Look how unusual the results are – to me it doesn’t look
like knitting or crochet, it has an air of Irish lace about it. Isn't this just beautiful? It's called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/de-danan" target="_blank">De Danann.</a></div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgI9FkNs3_9N5u2HXLraLt7HXRXr0jEThGq2UTeeGaf7xqSAGNdD3ghMLZwbHkKs1-pnp6yQhSYZCpzuYrJqIN3x0lF0z8AfORGOfuyIcWW1c6NjXeK1dUhfJk7o71dhVEzurkAyg6Eajv/s640/tunisian+crochet+1.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.halfadreamaway.com/" target="_blank">image copyright www.halfadreamaway.com</a></span></div>
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The designer is a an extremely talented ex graphic artist from Dublin named <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/aoibhe-ni" target="_blank">Aoibhe Ni</a>. (Actually, she lives very close to my husband's brother who lives in Co Meath, small world). She starts you off with a free taster pattern for the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pax" target="_blank">Pax shawl </a>(below). It
takes a bit of nutting out, but is fun and exciting to do.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmyK87DAPNafy_lc6wf5TGe-RYVsaorC8dZefGrwbh9G0XlMLNiZWEh1BOonrgsvu0ziasmQz_MTiTGTcOfnuA-Zhfu92W061KHnrIbkyumnkTYmRUDUmeLWafUx5WRxS9o3zj0oZxiKd/s1600/pax+tunisian+crochet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmyK87DAPNafy_lc6wf5TGe-RYVsaorC8dZefGrwbh9G0XlMLNiZWEh1BOonrgsvu0ziasmQz_MTiTGTcOfnuA-Zhfu92W061KHnrIbkyumnkTYmRUDUmeLWafUx5WRxS9o3zj0oZxiKd/s640/pax+tunisian+crochet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.halfadreamaway.com/" target="_blank">image copyright www.halfadreamaway.com</a></span></div>
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I really like the shawl design below, it's called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/honeymeade" target="_blank">Honeymeade</a>. Even though it's undeniably lace, the grid-like appearance of the fabric lends it an air of simplicity - in an ocean of floral and frothy motifs I think this one stands out as super sophisticated.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTMEv3SKT5DVsHoTE77wokTnREM1vQym1CrhQmgdv6bPzdcEMFSGlCS15_605F3PpVzN19ttio8XyIrPUnF4SqwaPoh5NJEaf45WKcTADfFGdbRljZmg5ujL8uRrqTAgW1-5YOG7RF4bG/s1600/tunisian+crochet+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTMEv3SKT5DVsHoTE77wokTnREM1vQym1CrhQmgdv6bPzdcEMFSGlCS15_605F3PpVzN19ttio8XyIrPUnF4SqwaPoh5NJEaf45WKcTADfFGdbRljZmg5ujL8uRrqTAgW1-5YOG7RF4bG/s640/tunisian+crochet+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.halfadreamaway.com/" target="_blank">image copyright www.halfadreamaway.com</a></span></div>
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On her <a href="http://www.aoibheni.com/index.html" target="_blank">website and blog</a> you can see her designs come to life
from inception to completion, learn the technique for free and then when you’re
ready you can buy the patterns. She also gives a great insight into <a href="http://www.aoibheni.com/index.html" target="_blank">modern yarny life in Dublin</a>, if you’re into that kind of thing. Which I totally am.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-8621362771127070162012-08-31T12:15:00.002+10:002012-08-31T12:24:32.635+10:00the lazy perfectionist (me, not the dyer)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been waiting to give this yarn the attention it truly deserves. I didn't want to rush a post about it, because I wanted to take the perfect photos, write the perfect prose and give this yarn it's proper adulation.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImMGfbLvmsyFkUwqcA7UMHWgYqUHSMT5y3JLO-uq2ltf6sZ5zYrwg-zJA67cw68qJRZfYhjhDc-8_o_9iRvVmqh_t8s8SH5Sgc9rs2fw1owE7lF_etDg1kJRog3cTx8XnEN3oZ7Rijsux/s1600/2012+08+31_3959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBNa8BoVHzv3hTtowXYPmTv8XEH4x050_3PYRHvclrZQds6DMLW55hWdX1_y5j3w_kBBl8F_AJwkTV8eVzFnZ464bC1dhhazvirvZKCWo1XIn-hS94Zx3CcesB3QP99oHDxA5vkFL6QW3/s1600/2012+08+31_3966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBNa8BoVHzv3hTtowXYPmTv8XEH4x050_3PYRHvclrZQds6DMLW55hWdX1_y5j3w_kBBl8F_AJwkTV8eVzFnZ464bC1dhhazvirvZKCWo1XIn-hS94Zx3CcesB3QP99oHDxA5vkFL6QW3/s640/2012+08+31_3966.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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But because there's never time enough, it's been sitting here in my basket and I've been saluting it every time I walk past with an armful of washing, on my way out to the gym, work, school run or grocery shopping. <br />
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This morning, even though I still don't have enough time to do it justice, I'm going to just get it out there.<br />
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I saw this colour bridge yarn on pinterest and pinned it to my <a href="http://pinterest.com/knitabulous/knits/" target="_blank">knits</a> page.From time to time, I visited the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/colorshiftyarn" target="_blank">etsy store</a> and had a drool. Then a few weeks ago, as often happens with knitters - I got that urge to<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/folklore-4" target="_blank"> knit something</a> RIGHT NOW.. The pattern was more or less unavailable. I emailed and begged. The designer was very understanding, being a knitter herself, and she emailed it to me.<br />
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I thought about colour. Loving the magenta to botanical green colour bridge - I bought it.<br />
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Then I pondered about the background colour. I messaged Erica, the dyer. What ensued was one of the most outstanding customer service experiences I have had ever. She was full of enthusiasm and understanding, so much so that she seemed to get what I was talking about when I was worried about 'is the perfect colour too perfect?' and whether an unexpected background colour might be better than a co-ordinating one. We talked - she sent pdf's on colour theory and fair isle design.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImMGfbLvmsyFkUwqcA7UMHWgYqUHSMT5y3JLO-uq2ltf6sZ5zYrwg-zJA67cw68qJRZfYhjhDc-8_o_9iRvVmqh_t8s8SH5Sgc9rs2fw1owE7lF_etDg1kJRog3cTx8XnEN3oZ7Rijsux/s1600/2012+08+31_3959.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImMGfbLvmsyFkUwqcA7UMHWgYqUHSMT5y3JLO-uq2ltf6sZ5zYrwg-zJA67cw68qJRZfYhjhDc-8_o_9iRvVmqh_t8s8SH5Sgc9rs2fw1owE7lF_etDg1kJRog3cTx8XnEN3oZ7Rijsux/s640/2012+08+31_3959.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
She slotted me in a dye time slot for the following week if I needed it.We came to a decision not to decide straight away, but to swatch and experiment. I ordered a few more gradated sets.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJ2XmMYDiypfIvKwMmU3xiPaf-EgXbTTk1TJ4KHJopO2e6DiMg4-xcKfnV9ekQLZtieAvx4aHga8ZKFctuyhEZP6GkxZzdzpwhKDBPD184RljVHtKMj52IZm4nKumNV8ldeaBBbHHGKXq/s1600/2012+08+31_3963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJ2XmMYDiypfIvKwMmU3xiPaf-EgXbTTk1TJ4KHJopO2e6DiMg4-xcKfnV9ekQLZtieAvx4aHga8ZKFctuyhEZP6GkxZzdzpwhKDBPD184RljVHtKMj52IZm4nKumNV8ldeaBBbHHGKXq/s640/2012+08+31_3963.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And what came in the mail less than a week later (from Seattle), I just can't use it, but can't wait to use it at the same time. It is breathtaking. A glossy fingering weight new zealand wool, it's soft but not too soft, and when I saw it I got excited about yarn again - just like when I first started.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXM-28uebYDS8emlNo9Ag2Dv4dWWLZ06A8In_uMILEdNO4tuk0XEQ9px4_VLCGV88dEG-3Jc4xaDRL-J4EARE05b9j6vf4TGhazOPwQWrEdzz0_lsXt7vPuu4tSpQ5UbtioYgEgZLwyW7/s1600/2012+08+31_3964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXM-28uebYDS8emlNo9Ag2Dv4dWWLZ06A8In_uMILEdNO4tuk0XEQ9px4_VLCGV88dEG-3Jc4xaDRL-J4EARE05b9j6vf4TGhazOPwQWrEdzz0_lsXt7vPuu4tSpQ5UbtioYgEgZLwyW7/s640/2012+08+31_3964.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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She even sent a little 'extra' in the tones we thought might be right for the background colour. What kind of excellence in customer service is that?<br />
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It just made me want to move to Seattle, and buy the entire catalogue of colorshift yarn.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-82451837180987902402012-08-23T14:30:00.000+10:002012-08-23T14:47:21.220+10:00In sooth I know not why I am so sad ....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7842513026/" title="chaleur 3 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="chaleur 3" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8440/7842513026_5208d2cdee.jpg" width="537" /></a> </div>
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You have to look pensive in finished knitting object poses don't you? Otherwise you might look like you're having FUN, and some patterns are way too serious for that. Even in silver jeans.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7842496078/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="2012 08 23_3891_edited-1 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="2012 08 23_3891_edited-1" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7117/7842496078_067d7964a9.jpg" width="334" /></a></div>
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This was a serious pattern to knit. The herringbone stitch takes a bit of getting used to, but once established, totally worth it.
Hawkeyed readers may notice that I don't appear to have fully gotten the hang of the herringbone stitch pattern until somewhere near the underarms. I noticed this myself, but let me tell you that by then I wouldn't have frogged and re-knit from the underarms even if I were being held at gunpoint.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7842511906/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="chaleur 5 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="chaleur 5" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7260/7842511906_586e9f8f03.jpg" width="337" /></a></div>
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I'm on the fence about it actually. It's soft, it's cozy, it's FUNNEL NECKED for god's sake .. But the thing is though, it is HUGE, and I am very short. I could easily wear it as a dress. <br />
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I knitted the smallest size, and I went down a needle size, but I should have started the sleeves a good 15cm before I did. I probably should have done something about this when I had the niggles of 'man this is taking a long time' during the process - but I wanted oversized, and oversized I certainly got!<br />
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I think, at some stage, I will cut it short and do a turnover hem on the bottom. I think that the icord sleeve edges and the lovely rollover funnel neck deserve to be teamed with a similar bottom edging. I'm surpised it wasn't part of the pattern to be honest.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7842516130/" title="chaleur 1 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="chaleur 1" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8427/7842516130_de51c1a4e5.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>
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But not today. Today I wear it in snuggly comfort, drink coffee, read moody books and slope around looking appropriately pensive.<br />
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<b>Pattern: </b> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chaleur"> Chaleur by Julie Hoover </a><br />
<b>Size Made: </b> Smallest </div>
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<b>My Ravelry Project Page:</b> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitabulous/chaleur"> Chaleur</a></div>
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<b>Yarn: </b> Cascade Eco Cloud 10 skeins</div>
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<b>Needle: </b> 2 sets of 4mm circulars</div>
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<b>Modifications: </b> None (yet). But it's very long for me, so I think I'll cut it off and add a turnover hem around waist height. I also might re-do the neck hem and make it more invisible like it's supposed to be. Having said that, it's just gorgeous the way it is, so if I never get to it I'll be okay with that too. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-74872000876340959042012-08-15T09:26:00.000+10:002012-08-15T09:29:35.871+10:00Set in Concrete<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Situation ... FIXED!<br />
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See all that new structural timber?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7784585520/" title="garage floor by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8303/7784585520_ccf8c3cc2d.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="garage floor"></a>
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My dad single handedly replaced all the joists and sured it all up, the ant man came and approved it all, and now, even as I type, they're pouring concrete in the garage. <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7784581148/" title="garage floor by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7260/7784581148_542e218d41.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="garage floor"></a>
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The floor is being raised because it's going to be our walk in wardrobe, ensuite and main bathroom. All those pipes coming out of the ground are for the vanities, toilets and showers. After the concrete dries we'll put some walls and doorways in, do the tiling and install the bathroom fixtures.<br />
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I can not wait to soak in my new bath, I'm hoping that little indulgence might be my birthday present to myself.
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I really am going to have to make the tile decision soon. Maybe even today. Eek.
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-34970511952374763672012-08-10T13:37:00.002+10:002012-08-10T13:37:34.422+10:00The Termite Situation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkf-TOT3SN4vv3uk7pWRMh4MKP2zsszCuKPrEgE_RoYHqddR43530-iTWmTi3hv0Xvh6Je9-0EgGzYNArDrgwIMZU2ZHEkreow6SGTX3NhUESd4IxrYUx1PREpLhRgoNM1EeAD93sQzmw/s1600/2012+08+10_3751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkf-TOT3SN4vv3uk7pWRMh4MKP2zsszCuKPrEgE_RoYHqddR43530-iTWmTi3hv0Xvh6Je9-0EgGzYNArDrgwIMZU2ZHEkreow6SGTX3NhUESd4IxrYUx1PREpLhRgoNM1EeAD93sQzmw/s1600/2012+08+10_3751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><br />
The pest inspection didn't hide the fact that the termite damage was there. The price of the house reflected this, and we knew that the actual beasties were long gone. All that was left is their 'galleries',which are really quite amazing. Labrynths of mud highways, slowly and painstakingly built to keep them in the dark, hot and humid. They don't mind travel (they'll go over concrete, up drainpipes, under the ground), but they don't like exposure. Imagine if everywhere you went to get food you first had to build a tunnel to get there. And even though they're destructive little things, the structure of their galleries is quite beautiful. Kind of feathery.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPeY73grjHtNqXrzW4QfcyDMLOIJvE4djgAN12KnjYKOPvMYTawj-_8Gn2uHVugZwDVYv-0JfZ2xovj0f3vnw4grD-cgFzW4MYWD_5KdGI6YHXxRbdY2L0YU9Kzqr2SXgsCWi1MDf_YPW/s1600/2012+08+10_3752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPeY73grjHtNqXrzW4QfcyDMLOIJvE4djgAN12KnjYKOPvMYTawj-_8Gn2uHVugZwDVYv-0JfZ2xovj0f3vnw4grD-cgFzW4MYWD_5KdGI6YHXxRbdY2L0YU9Kzqr2SXgsCWi1MDf_YPW/s320/2012+08+10_3752.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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They're fascinating, these little things. A female termite can lay up to 2000 eggs a day and live 50 years. They won't eat cypress pine (hence my floorboards are quite intact). It's not uncommon for there to be 2 million termites in a colony.<br />
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And whilst they damage the structural integrity of timber, they aren't indiscriminate. You'll find they might completely destroy one floor joist but mysteriously leave the one next to it completely undisturbed. They won't eat the gyprock sheeting, but they will eat all the paper that covers it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32IDwmLVp3U4OTby61HkqkeA9iMM_mqpEWqqGShSaYS86BFQGvOHqLOnIyn5tB7Q6j5uipJJZEkGcInDnwHsbddOguYFH9iUN70xxn0ZBXKu__jsXE_X_f06ZgnkbjSHDUqghvNnklalv/s1600/2012+08+10_3750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32IDwmLVp3U4OTby61HkqkeA9iMM_mqpEWqqGShSaYS86BFQGvOHqLOnIyn5tB7Q6j5uipJJZEkGcInDnwHsbddOguYFH9iUN70xxn0ZBXKu__jsXE_X_f06ZgnkbjSHDUqghvNnklalv/s320/2012+08+10_3750.JPG" width="239" /> </a></div>
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See how they've completely eaten the vertical joist but left the horizontal one untouched?</div>
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And if they had have eaten that diagonal beam in the ceiling there, the whole house would have collapsed because it's holding up the roof. Dad put that iron pole support in there to hold everything up while we replaced those rotten bits.</div>
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It's so interesting thinking about this while you're sledgehammering out your own walls.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI76Mj69KCO48LICRmpBLMS4xQxMcycy5nvJtmiqOn3Ve7sH2wWOD-MwGclC3qBpvlfz1Fhe6FSIGd7RXKgD9t1ryC_l8hl72aynGqzlgyMm4rPOBQI0LvyaYJwXMb5mDGhyphenhyphenBsz7cbW2VR/s1600/2012+08+10_3743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI76Mj69KCO48LICRmpBLMS4xQxMcycy5nvJtmiqOn3Ve7sH2wWOD-MwGclC3qBpvlfz1Fhe6FSIGd7RXKgD9t1ryC_l8hl72aynGqzlgyMm4rPOBQI0LvyaYJwXMb5mDGhyphenhyphenBsz7cbW2VR/s320/2012+08+10_3743.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I won't lie to you, when dad pulled the gyprock off the wall in the garage, it was a bit of a shock. There was more damage than we anticipated - I started calling it The Situation. We got a guy in who kicked a lot of wood and advised us what to do.<br />
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With that advice, the expertise and hard work of my dad, we're getting there. Controlling the Situation.<br />
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On a lighter note - I pulled up to park at the gym the other day and look was in front of me. Real crochet, real yarn, and made to order. I like the entrepreneurial spirit!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0S81h9W_OIOwFJlOK0tOiPDNmOrZHLok18ZdI0FVCsluT8z1oMuqp9aR-KrTI5rTlCEDgcGq7jt-Y1cSujM5-DmhY-Vs2hisXWKsD7xD0801nZTLn04InoOAZllZCvmNPiYmOjd-7h0H/s1600/2012+08+10_3755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0S81h9W_OIOwFJlOK0tOiPDNmOrZHLok18ZdI0FVCsluT8z1oMuqp9aR-KrTI5rTlCEDgcGq7jt-Y1cSujM5-DmhY-Vs2hisXWKsD7xD0801nZTLn04InoOAZllZCvmNPiYmOjd-7h0H/s320/2012+08+10_3755.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm only at the computer because I said I was going to making dad some lunch - he's in the Situation room hammering away, so I better go do that. And get your house inspected for termites! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-21153663125416370362012-08-01T13:46:00.001+10:002012-08-01T13:46:12.589+10:00The Elephant in the Room<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I have long blog breaks I'm often undecided about whether to chuck it in altogether. I'm not so delusional as to think the online community is enriched by my presence - it most certainly is not, so the next question is really why bother?<br />
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Then again, I guess it's like an old habit I'm loathe to break altogether, even though it seems I've cut down to one a month. Now that I only knit a tiny bit, I haven't got any finished items to show off.<br />
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What I do have is news on the renovation. We've started! Approval finally granted, can you beleive they declined a garage on some boundary technicality but approved a carport that is closer to the boundary than the garage proposal? Who knows what that's about - and I suppose I could have fought it but sometimes the line of least resistance is the best line.<br />
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A temp worksite fence has been erected, a council notification sign is out the frront and there's a big mess in the garage. They've cut up the concrete floor where the plumbing for the wet areas in the ensuite and main bathroom are going to go.<br />
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In terms of design elements, I have a bucket list of things I would like to feature. Would you like to see some of them?<br />
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<b>SOME KIND OF BASALT HONED BATHROOM TILE</b><br />
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You can get them in a few different price ranges, from the pure expensive basalt to the ceramic knock-off. I probably can't afford the top of the range, but I'm on the HUNT for the bargain. The bathroom isn't very big, and I only want to use it on the floor and up one wall, so maybe I can find a compromise...<br />
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This is the kind of tile I'm talking about. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwpNRugOSKJTCht3XBArje6usryjx_ihFIwn1aj6q0nSNaG8JJgS4XiK2fftEzwe6QcDB43Xvkzffcw-1aW5Ic_ImpbnpsOU82xjEv-CPILqvMooNFNuCozRn02iitO1pul3WDgKRcmey/s1600/basalt+bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwpNRugOSKJTCht3XBArje6usryjx_ihFIwn1aj6q0nSNaG8JJgS4XiK2fftEzwe6QcDB43Xvkzffcw-1aW5Ic_ImpbnpsOU82xjEv-CPILqvMooNFNuCozRn02iitO1pul3WDgKRcmey/s640/basalt+bathroom.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://i-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/ny/3-24-basalt-tile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/ny/3-24-basalt-tile.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>MEET THE FLINTSTONES</b><br />
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It's a 70's house, and it's not ever going to be anything else. Even after the renovation it's not going to be a big home, and I don't want to modernise it on the outside so it clashes with the very ordinary suburban streetscape that's already there. I'm hoping we can create more street appeal through prettiness and timeless retro features - like crazy paving. The plan is to use it as a winding entrance pathway, around the imaginary future pool, and as a feature on the plinths on the carport. Maybe even on some of the external walls!<br />
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Here's the crazy paving thing I'm in love with. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcsNV1FJ279C4bsH2dRYHaYjcGag0x1doJn3k-GfvdrGVCbOuDkrF9qsFG4DpXRWGohHjWpGFvdoQV7SPHiww_i9ul_mcy0X1Wrph2VW2xzMLA5Hao9iPQY8vCARo5LUVmHHFLjWx_RRE/s1600/crazy+paving+path.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcsNV1FJ279C4bsH2dRYHaYjcGag0x1doJn3k-GfvdrGVCbOuDkrF9qsFG4DpXRWGohHjWpGFvdoQV7SPHiww_i9ul_mcy0X1Wrph2VW2xzMLA5Hao9iPQY8vCARo5LUVmHHFLjWx_RRE/s640/crazy+paving+path.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love the aged look of this natural stone crazy paved pathway through the unstructured flower beds. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_EHMUw-EWkcs-aEnr70KehxhzLP5jzklNDclM5rT2oPpKGeK4lKTKdwPmEA-wbk4TqfEb7dRiK7tTJp-9DABhe4rMISdXKef7peCkuFo7Fo7uMUOdp72-zLAb-MAFXLObX7JhCPoXl4k/s1600/crazy-paving+-+harvest+678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJJZ1EgfEdKB8-6betLYTvjuflrI_XNICd8x3bLySgONVH3Bqbx9eH7jNMFVaWzwy0IYxQTT5q7boROf1gSB0WRMsz3upWjNWGPjZ2hHMk9WiCqJj3rMtS-UnmPAG_82mBIa2umgEwdNc/s1600/crazy+paving+walls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJJZ1EgfEdKB8-6betLYTvjuflrI_XNICd8x3bLySgONVH3Bqbx9eH7jNMFVaWzwy0IYxQTT5q7boROf1gSB0WRMsz3upWjNWGPjZ2hHMk9WiCqJj3rMtS-UnmPAG_82mBIa2umgEwdNc/s640/crazy+paving+walls.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love these retaining walls too, although can you imagine the work? <br />
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<b>WHITE WINDOWS</b><br />
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I'm not going to put any images in here. You know what white windows look like right?<br />
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<b>PALE COLOURBOND ROOF</b><br />
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I cannot wait to hear the rain on my new tin roof!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0zijbbc0kMJ9qYQM7tZJPn48AJnGLN60VMAp82hhUPCRf8l2hS6YfX0p6TjM6Wj9QVXv4q-uuaH6Z7TGsq1Hj16bQ3ZcTqj9mm1VIN7CRrdJuDDgQ9-EZOy3N0QklTrm0LIm6mF9DfkQ/s1600/surfmist+roof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0zijbbc0kMJ9qYQM7tZJPn48AJnGLN60VMAp82hhUPCRf8l2hS6YfX0p6TjM6Wj9QVXv4q-uuaH6Z7TGsq1Hj16bQ3ZcTqj9mm1VIN7CRrdJuDDgQ9-EZOy3N0QklTrm0LIm6mF9DfkQ/s640/surfmist+roof.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've got a big book of sketches, clippings and ideas for each room. I love getting it out and imagining it all finished. In my head it's all furniture, paint and decorating. The reality of endless concrete dust, mud, wheelbarrows and brainsplitting noise is coming as a bit of a shock!<br />
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So that's what I've been up to. What about you?</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-24248537588110715582012-06-22T18:19:00.001+10:002012-06-22T18:19:31.014+10:00Go the Cro<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been liking the crochet lately. <br />
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I think crochet gets a bad rap because so much of it is ghastly. But it doesn't have to be!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7417985616/" title="crochet circles by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="crochet circles" height="334" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7134/7417985616_76e3de2345.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I must admit that the inspiration for this came from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/fiveoaks66/sunny-spread">ravelry</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/161214861631366796/">pinterest</a>.<br />
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Working well though don't you think?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7418015792/" title="crochet squares by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="crochet squares" height="334" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5333/7418015792_4b6336e4db.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I'm really pleased so far ..<br />
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<br />
Another thing I'm really pleased with is the super clean eating I've been doing - so much creative energy going into new 'designs' for things to eat! I recently made up a dish I call Eat Your Yellows - a warm roasted quinoa based vegetable salad. It's so good, and afterwards you feel as virtuous as a nun.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7412153830/" title="eat your yellows by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="eat your yellows" height="334" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8146/7412153830_94d77336d8.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7412131914/" title="eat your yellows by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="eat your yellows" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7106/7412131914_bd4eba8ecf.jpg" width="334" /></a><br />
<br />
Super simple - jumble together cherry tomatoes, some yellow vegetables (make sure to include some of the hearts of celery including the lovely soft leaves) and smash a few cloves of peeled garlic, add some torn basil leaves, sprinkle with garam masala, curry powder, cumin seeds and salt - roast on a high heat until nice and brown and caramelised. Then toss with a bit of crumble feta.<br />
<br />
While this is roasting, cook some red quinoa in a stock cube and water. Stock cube optional.<br />
<br />
Yum. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-82397813915557036322012-05-23T11:42:00.000+10:002012-05-23T11:45:22.833+10:00from little things .. big things grow<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've got a friend whose daughter is having a baby girl. She asked me to make a blanket and I happily obliged. There was an adamant no pink instruction, so I made one in ink blue, avocado and red Rowan Felted Tweed which I bought in Calico and Ivy. Beautiful yarn.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7226060118/" title="tweed baby blanket by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="tweed baby blanket" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7104/7226060118_f07c65479a.jpg" width="296" /></a>
<br />
<b>Pattern</b>: Brooklyntweed Tweed Baby Blanket<br />
<b>Yarn</b>: Rowan Felted Tweed<br />
<b>Modifications</b>: the original pattern has a solid centre square, but I didn't have enough of the avocado yarn and a surplus of the blue, so I put a stripe in.<br />
I think I'll do a pair of shoes and maybe even a toy with the leftovers, as it's not really baby skin yarn.<br />
<br />
However, for this massive pink fan, the 'no pink' instruction just does not compute. So, when left ot my own devices, I couldn't help myself.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7248546878/" title="2012 05 22_3424_edited-1 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="2012 05 22_3424_edited-1" height="297" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7099/7248546878_97e21eb1ba.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Now these are baby skin soft!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7248546070/" title="Aviatrix Baby hat by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="Aviatrix Baby hat" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7081/7248546070_f790bed683.jpg" width="334" /></a><br />
<br />
<b>Patterns</b>: Aviatrix hat by Justine Turner<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7248542502/" title="baby jacket by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="baby jacket" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7228/7248542502_a82525527b.jpg" width="386" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<b>And</b>: Vintage 1 skein hooded baby jacket in the public domain for free.<br />
<br />
<br />
Both patterns are wonderful - the aviatrix is the epitome of instant gratification, and the beautiful eyelet pattern on the yoke of the jacket was a delight.<br />
<br />
<b>Yarn</b>: Madelinetosh 80/10/10 MCN Sport - possibly the perfect luxury baby yarn. So soft, the dappled colours so pretty, every stitch is a pleasure.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Modifications</b>: None. The jacket is designed for worsted, and the yarn is sport - so it's very small. But it will definitely fit a newborn, and they're moving to Canberra, so the wee little thing will definitely need a warm head and body. <br />
<br />
My knitting mojo is back - I'm so glad - I really thought it had fizzled out altogether!
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-23771148499369439402012-05-19T20:09:00.003+10:002012-05-19T20:16:03.572+10:0012 Week Body Transformation Wrap Up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I <a href="http://www.12wbt.com/">signed up</a>, I stuck to the program as best I could. I trained, cooked, ate and trained some more. <br />
<br />
And indeed a transformation did happen, but it wasn't just on the outside. I think I was transformed on the inside too.<br />
<br />
There are things I used to eat that I can honestly say I choose never to eat again. I believe that fast food is not food at all. I cannot believe how strong my body is, and I get a lot of pleasure out of pushing it as far as I can. I can, in fact, live without sugar. I do not need to have a treat every time I have a coffee. I can even go for long periods without wine! And I feel a decade younger.<br />
<br />
Here I am the day before the program started, at my first South Coast 12 WBT group workout meeting.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7226053382/" title="before 12 wbt by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="before 12 wbt" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8146/7226053382_455e9d7646.jpg" width="500" /></a>
And here I am last Sunday just before I headed out for a run.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7226053246/" title="after 12 wbt by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="after 12 wbt" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7096/7226053246_c27f5227e2.jpg" width="335" /></a>
<br />
I cannot wait for round 2 of the program to start - my goals are slightly different this time around. I still want to lose some more weight but I really want some muscles in my arms and dare I say it, my abs.<br />
<br />
Speaking of transformations, I'm not the only one who's changing before my eyes.<br />
<br />
Blair went to a dance party tonight in her new lairy pants.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7226067152/" title="blair lairy pants by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="blair lairy pants" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7077/7226067152_a93eca3bb1.jpg" width="334" /></a>
<br />
What else?<br />
<br />
I've been knitting.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7226058368/" title="Clapotis by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="Clapotis" height="334" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7219/7226058368_a8f97950d7.jpg" width="500" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7226062972/" title="DSC_0029 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC_0029" height="331" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7227/7226062972_ef2cf59b2e.jpg" width="500" /></a>
<br />
And I bought something from <a href="http://www.facebook.com/byronbaychoppingboards">Byron Bay</a>.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7226106088/" title="DSC_0005 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC_0005" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8163/7226106088_5c0575f986.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
I've been led to believe the Development Consent for our renovation is only weeks away ... It's going to be all happening around here when that event occurs. I might even pop a bottle of champagne!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-45127745611705410602012-04-09T12:49:00.001+10:002012-04-09T12:57:41.514+10:00Easter Show KnittingAnd so it's that time of the year again - time to look at what should be the best knitting in the country for 2011.<br />
<br />
I say should. Although I can't expain this.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7052359177/" title="Easter Show 2012 7 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5334/7052359177_06fbe5f205.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Easter Show 2012 7"></a><br />
<br />
Or this.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7052356083/" title="Easter Show 2012 5 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7218/7052356083_19d4e034d8.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Easter Show 2012 5"></a><br />
<br />
But I was weak in the presence of beauty such as this.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6906260426/" title="Easter Show 2012 1 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7218/6906260426_4ed52f9245.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Easter Show 2012 1"></a><br />
<br />
On the whole, I believe the standard of knitting to be higher this year than any other year, it made me very happy to recognise so many patterns - recent ones at that - and far less repetition than in previous years. It was only a few years ago that the same bendigo pattern would be in the aran category and everything was knit in that hideous crepe yarn. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6906268110/" title="Easter Show 2012 6 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5453/6906268110_7bfebd8178.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Easter Show 2012 6"></a><br />
<br />
Once again the lace is a standout - although I seriously lament the loss of the separation of wool and plant fibres. That's what you get when you let semantics get in the way of objectives. I really wish there was a category for cellulose based fibres - where silk and cotton and linen knitted lace could sit alone from the hair/fleece fibres. Such a shame that the 'confusion' caused by a 50/50 wool/silk blend and the noisy bleats of people on ravelry who don't even enter the category have led to the amalgamation of the two into one. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6906427650/" title="Easter Show 2012 85 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7040/6906427650_5ac223567c.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Easter Show 2012 85"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7052545545/" title="Easter Show 2012 101 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7196/7052545545_54c8345510.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Easter Show 2012 101"></a><br />
<br />
Still, it hasn't diminished the quality of the entries.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6906458308/" title="Easter Show 2012 103 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/6906458308_6605f02e2b.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Easter Show 2012 103"></a><br />
<br />
Speaking of category bunkum - when similar complaints were made about the colourwork categories on ravelry (ie: intarsia/norwegian colourwork/entrelac etc etc don't fit into the category of 'fair isle'), instead of amalgamating the colourwork categories like they did the lace, they separated them into three separate categories - fair isle, 'jacquard', and intarsia. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6906334752/" title="Easter Show 2012 37 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7208/6906334752_da2840e89b.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Easter Show 2012 37"></a><br />
<br />
I haven't mentioned this here yet, but I may as well now. I have joined the executive of the NSW Knitters' Guild. I would really like the guild to form a working party to determine a full and comprehensive set of categories for the knitting and crochet - and submit it to the RAS for consideration. Although the categories have been expanded in some areas to include popular categories such as socks and accessories, and the Guild has certainly been heading in the right direction (except with the lace, they've ruined those categories) - I'm hoping for a more strategic and wholistic approach this year. <br />
<br />
Oh dear. I seem to have gotten on my soapbox. Sorry about that.<br />
<br />
Won't be around for a week or so - I'm off go Byron Bay!!<br />
<br />
A slideshow of the items in the knitting cases can be found <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/sets/72157629392726462/show/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
A fantastic slideshow made by <a href="http://safetybootsandcrochet.wordpress.com/">frogrockr</a> from Canberra - showing the the crochet and standards of excellence case can be foundh <a href="http://s88.photobucket.com/albums/k196/frogrockr/Sydney%20Royal%202012/?albumview=slideshow">here</a> - <br />
<br />
<br />
(and 12WBT going really well. 9.4 kilos down, only 15 to go ..)<br />
<br />
http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/sets/72157629392726462/show/<br />
<br />
http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/sets/72157629392373666/show/Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-50990643489283129492012-03-31T15:28:00.001+11:002012-04-07T10:53:56.754+10:00flipside<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I managed to find the energy to finish a wrap I started way back in November on our weekend away to Sewjourn. I was a little iffy about the colours, particularly the dark green, but now looking at the photograph it seems that it doesn't look so drab after all.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6885101302/" title="olana shawl by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7120/6885101302_1915cd69c7.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="olana shawl"></a><br />
<br />
The yarn is some zara leftover from the kingscott cardigan last year and the madeline tosh club 80-10-10 worsted in Treetops, a mostly dark forest green with shots of black and teal throughout. Green. My least favourite colour.<br />
<br />
The pattern is a hybrid of a few shawl patterns cobbled together. The centre is a simple enough garter stitch triangle, I used the instructions from the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/olana-shawl">Olana Shawl</a> pattern. The increase method used at each end of this shawl give a very good looking edge for pickup later on - it's a technique I think a lot of garter square based shawls could benefit from.<br />
<br />
I finished the centre triangle months ago, but I seemed to have an incorrect stitch count every time I tried to continue with the next step of the pattern. It was probably me though.<br />
<br />
So I ended up picking up the edges and working a super simple ruffle style edging from the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mara-3">Mara Shawl</a> pattern. It only took me a few days to do the edging, but I later found another full skein of the treetops, so I could have made a deeper ruffle.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6885010232/" title="mara hybrid by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7210/6885010232_fb52683d6f.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="mara hybrid"></a><br />
</div><br />
I'm all coulda woulda shoulda with knitting right now.<br />
<br />
On the renovation front, the Development Application went to Council on Thursday - the whole thing is now at the mercy of some beauracrats. Wollongong City Council is so different since the fallout from the ICAC investigation, there's no-one left to sleep with or slip a designer handbag to in order to get your DA passed. Such a shame!<br />
<br />
Today, dad and Alan pulled out the other side of the kitchen.<br />
<br />
<br />
That's right, no sink. They promise me they can rectify that tomorrow, but I'm not hopeful.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6885009158/" title="kitchen sink side by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7176/6885009158_977a76b7c0.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="kitchen sink side"></a><br />
<br />
There's been some exciting deliveries..<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6885020282/" title="deliveries by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7105/6885020282_9da70cf44c.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="deliveries"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/7031116901/" title="deliveries 2 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7111/7031116901_4c2cb708f4.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="deliveries 2"></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVu6iJeRFcjXdC6TqqrhC0N_gLpo0fLzKDm691xjp1rYW4q5FFMgrk1u-i1QG9sXfAGOUWcT3X9tIYpYRbhWX4rNkMTy5sgVEmYyMD7HSyrLr0d7TNO4cmA8lSKZDQ1C1_p0lM_9H0GpF2/s1600/Mary+Poppins+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVu6iJeRFcjXdC6TqqrhC0N_gLpo0fLzKDm691xjp1rYW4q5FFMgrk1u-i1QG9sXfAGOUWcT3X9tIYpYRbhWX4rNkMTy5sgVEmYyMD7HSyrLr0d7TNO4cmA8lSKZDQ1C1_p0lM_9H0GpF2/s320/Mary+Poppins+001.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>And guess what, see this one? Has a 'boyfriend'. I'm not ready for this part..<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-71100373049785519822012-03-20T14:52:00.000+11:002012-03-20T14:52:52.390+11:00I have plans!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Because we want to obtain both development approval and a building certificate at the same time, we have obtained some additional engineer's drawings for the building works. These are fun to look at! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBMq90zKI2K8InVpLQPXeENT04ZsDpzwaXESVmphOqZ3GlkMXyuy3cLg_NQJ0Ki6yHpECjTORtERKg3fVSOWhGqk3krvbds97eTbt_wH03CAC50Mmrz38PpD7QtTFkhnO2A63Pg9I9mI7/s1600/plans.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBMq90zKI2K8InVpLQPXeENT04ZsDpzwaXESVmphOqZ3GlkMXyuy3cLg_NQJ0Ki6yHpECjTORtERKg3fVSOWhGqk3krvbds97eTbt_wH03CAC50Mmrz38PpD7QtTFkhnO2A63Pg9I9mI7/s400/plans.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>(although these aren't them)<br />
<br />
Architect says several weeks till approval is granted (I was thinking several months, so was majorly excited when he said the word 'weeks' to me on the phone) - and so I'm in the midst of estimating and sourcing the boring things - roof trusses and timber framework, roof tiles, sarking, boring!<br />
<br />
What I'd love to be 'estimating and sourcing' (another euphemism for 'shopping', I'm full of them because sometimes 'shopping' is a dirty word around the Finance Director but I've discovered that he's easily confused by alternative phrases) is furniture and lighting, glazing and flooring. <br />
<br />
But my current obsession is with hand-made ceramics.<br />
<br />
I'm hoping to install a very deep floating timber shelf in the kitchen somewhere and stack it with handmade ceramic flatware. Functional, tactile and beautiful. <br />
<br />
<br />
And speaking of sourcing and estimating ...<br />
<br />
If you like quirky homewares and interior design pieces - particularly if you don't live near anything remotely hip - You must subscribe to <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuMoDyuYP9M0j16t4toqyG95z1ks0azmUxhEIBtwbpRCPa3tGSiOhs4VKQrtgJ6tPyo-Kc3BC62PyKWpDfLhp4zpZ7S51mN9fYniuYCmlVzbtpIONCVxdNeKg0PT9nx4xA5gxe3PUtMWZ/s1600/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuMoDyuYP9M0j16t4toqyG95z1ks0azmUxhEIBtwbpRCPa3tGSiOhs4VKQrtgJ6tPyo-Kc3BC62PyKWpDfLhp4zpZ7S51mN9fYniuYCmlVzbtpIONCVxdNeKg0PT9nx4xA5gxe3PUtMWZ/s400/logo.png" width="220" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.templeandwebster.com.au/">Temple and Webster</a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.templeandwebster.com.au/blog/">here's there blog</a>.<br />
<br />
They're one of those invitation only sales websites that has deals on homewares and furniture. Yes it's another one of those 'daily deal' things. Yes they email you. But it's a million times more interesting than catch of the day. <br />
<br />
For example, you could be the proud owner of some of these wonderful things:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> A yellow apron.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8opJUOdz5dhQgQb9UGGZhD4M1MjDHsbRvQC81EhMWzP0cgxDDyJlRslUBMeZfzMIztBS0XwiAlnkGL3fCqet4voGjv4X57AydNPcWFwfMc2S8SBXHkj5KXOYF32j_vxwCT54zvR5YCu8T/s1600/ena-freesia-apron-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8opJUOdz5dhQgQb9UGGZhD4M1MjDHsbRvQC81EhMWzP0cgxDDyJlRslUBMeZfzMIztBS0XwiAlnkGL3fCqet4voGjv4X57AydNPcWFwfMc2S8SBXHkj5KXOYF32j_vxwCT54zvR5YCu8T/s400/ena-freesia-apron-web.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or an indigo Ikat Apron.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEMh42237ZV2NuBHcQJR3hcbszGGkDnzf8Yczmn6O1MAQDxpb3yK3tw_OC7pid0IVVzl44wstv3BLw9d-MQXs3lhEMj-K0NFLIBCkN2LKou2yRdSf94K4l-3zCFsCX69c_Pl_xhZGEG-Q/s1600/ikat-spot-indigo-apron-web_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEMh42237ZV2NuBHcQJR3hcbszGGkDnzf8Yczmn6O1MAQDxpb3yK3tw_OC7pid0IVVzl44wstv3BLw9d-MQXs3lhEMj-K0NFLIBCkN2LKou2yRdSf94K4l-3zCFsCX69c_Pl_xhZGEG-Q/s400/ikat-spot-indigo-apron-web_1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Or a marble topped coffee table.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-8uBLmeDvdH6c2y9EgenwJB90jYwRzkQK1sp8Jmv3d2xpVtcF23X3acYDMD2OE07nPGbSORYlJn4ykGKymLypya6a2nVqEyIzcuZ0ZsGKskswyfCRrxNIw0eA0aA8eAk5DHKqOWLTxVm/s1600/w2707wa-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-8uBLmeDvdH6c2y9EgenwJB90jYwRzkQK1sp8Jmv3d2xpVtcF23X3acYDMD2OE07nPGbSORYlJn4ykGKymLypya6a2nVqEyIzcuZ0ZsGKskswyfCRrxNIw0eA0aA8eAk5DHKqOWLTxVm/s400/w2707wa-web.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfTwm-nXerdOg1IvPPYcdee_xHqvoxGGCiP8lm5Xa0D2xrIGajqURlADvN3rcV1g5oe7iwlXPbRZzzXOBobTezfbgm2VG42LFWHhmgS8UuQ8qcGKVRpZnzji29VyR3-H3ppSnQZSDs9yK/s1600/1-bas-white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfTwm-nXerdOg1IvPPYcdee_xHqvoxGGCiP8lm5Xa0D2xrIGajqURlADvN3rcV1g5oe7iwlXPbRZzzXOBobTezfbgm2VG42LFWHhmgS8UuQ8qcGKVRpZnzji29VyR3-H3ppSnQZSDs9yK/s320/1-bas-white.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Or some beautiful new white cotton bedlinen.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GWxN_Q_o0AnMZCPzqLTewQgFXxGDONbl4YvUGhicsJUMAY1zrmT0LHux_bFUOong2oHcI_f1FowwughKFuVp-dTFY4q1nh4sHAZjRiPx0CLqEM7GvA69xVo4KLaVHbHY2LOoS4crQE0N/s1600/paisley-tree_blue-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GWxN_Q_o0AnMZCPzqLTewQgFXxGDONbl4YvUGhicsJUMAY1zrmT0LHux_bFUOong2oHcI_f1FowwughKFuVp-dTFY4q1nh4sHAZjRiPx0CLqEM7GvA69xVo4KLaVHbHY2LOoS4crQE0N/s1600/paisley-tree_blue-web.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Or something like this for your bedroom wall.</div><br />
I'm loving Temple and Webster right now..<br />
<br />
<br />
(Hey, btw, I'm over 6 kilos lighter on the 12WBT. I'm a total convert to the Church of Michelle Bridges! Cook, eat, exercise. Cook, eat, exercise.With that and all the 'sourcing' - that's about all I've got time to do these days.)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-5591825656001816812012-03-10T22:29:00.000+11:002012-03-10T22:29:14.009+11:00Fully operational<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">At long last I can declare the cafe at the nouvelle chez Daly open!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6822171760/" title="kitchen done by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/6822171760_5e5b0d5bf2.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="kitchen done"></a><br />
<br />
The old me would have baked a lasagne. A cake. Brownies. Risotto perhaps. <br />
<br />
The new me made a low fat, low sugar, low gi pear and raspberry bread.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6822135168/" title="pear and raspberry bread by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7039/6822135168_e9e288602d.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="pear and raspberry bread"></a><br />
<br />
The induction cooktop is so far proving to be amazing - so fast and clean. The all white colour scheme is beautifully layered, it might be all white but there's definitely no matchy matchy. <br />
<br />
My favourite thing about it is the honed matte surface of the smartstone - it provides a texture that almost looks like a patina on marble, I feel it has so much more character and life than all the ceasarstone colours. The whisper of grey in the splashback was a wonderful suprise - has to be the effect of starfire glass on Dulux Lexington White because you can't get much whiter than that colour. I'm so glad I didn't go for plain toughened glass, at the last minute I really went off the pale translucent green that it throws when it's painted white - even though six months ago I absolutely loved it.<br />
<br />
When the back wall comes out and the sliders go in out to the new deck, the splashback is going to reflect the trees outside, creating a corridor of trees either side of the galley. So I'm very glad that I convinced the finance director by name and nature to stump up the cash for the glass, and not insist on the much much much cheaper tiles.<br />
<br />
Another bonus is the 'runway' of super efficient flourescent downlights that we had installed in the ceiling. Not only do they provide a wonderful amount of light on the very high splashback, but now I have a permanent lightbox in the kitchen for blog photos.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6968296363/" title="parfait by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7187/6968296363_c22fa98c1f.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="parfait"></a><br />
<br />
We probably went overboard on the glass fronted powerpoints, at almost $60 each (and I think I got a wholesale price), plus $30 for each cut out in the glass, the three points came in to round about $300. I could have bought the tiles the whole thing for the same amount of money! And they're plastic. <br />
<br />
So next up is getting the Development Application through. Realising I was way out of my depth trying to do it myself we engaged the services of a local architect. Worth every cent, they're going to oversee the process from start to finish. It's only a smallish project, but the paperwork! The inscrutable legislation! The ambiguous rules! Local Governments should be ashamed of themselves.<br />
<br />
And do you remember the before?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6846017093/" title="kitchen old by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7186/6846017093_950951b840.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="kitchen old"></a><br />
<br />
Oh and as for knitting - with all the exercise, cooking and more exercise I've been doing on the 12WBT, I hardly have time to make a cup of tea, let alone knit. I did crochet a tea cosy in a great funky coloured yarn but I gave it away without photographing it for the blog first! I haven't given it away completely, but it's taken such a backseat lately. I hope it makes a comeback for winter!<br />
<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-19116126062790965802012-02-16T14:32:00.002+11:002012-02-16T14:50:48.590+11:00Veins in the benchtopI have recently learnted that one of the worst things about putting a new kitchen in a house is how long you're actually without a kitchen in the meantime. We're doing ours in two stages - one cooking side and later on we'll do the sink side, so at least I can wash the dishes, even though I don't have a cooker or anything. Still.<br />
<br />
I thought I'd talk a little about the Benchtop Decision. I'm a bit of a researcher when it comes to decisions in life, at times a little of an overthinker. So when it came time to decide on a kitchen design, I researched. And researched. And researched.<br />
<br />
Using Pinterest and old fashioned manilla folders, the group of galley kitchen images started to come together and tell a unified story. It was easy to see what colour kitchen I liked - all of them were white! There were a few other similarities, no handles, lots of drawers.<br />
<br />
And then there was this. Over and over again.<br />
<br />
Marble.<br />
<br />
<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/76186/Ansley-Park-Kitchen-traditional-kitchen-atlanta'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simages/76186_0_8-2698-traditional-kitchen.jpg' alt='Ansley Park Kitchen traditional kitchen' border=0 width='500' height='376'></img></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional/kitchen'>traditional kitchen design</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/architect/atlanta'>atlanta architect</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/soorikian4/soorikian-architecture'>Soorikian Architecture</a></small></div>Calacutta Marble to be exact. When I first saw it, I didn't know what it was. But after <a href="http://www.homeimprovementpages.com.au/article/5_great_reasons_to_choose_marble_benchtops">reading</a> some <a href="http://homes.ninemsn.com.au/indoor/kitchens/8180111/what-is-calacatta-marble">interesting</a> <a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/158673/list/Carrara-vs--Calacatta-Marble--What-is-the-Difference-">articles</a> and <a href="http://cotedetexas.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/white-marble-for-kitchen-yes-or-no.html">blog posts</a>, I just wanted it. Want. Want. Want.<br />
<br />
Of course we couldn't afford it. I suspect half of those beautiful kitchens have a hidden butler's pantry where all the messy work gets done, or are owned by people who perhaps don't cook. <br />
<br />
But in my house, the risk of etching from red wine and salad dressing spills is really a bit of a foregone conclusion. I wanted to beleive <a href="http://petchhouse.blogspot.com.au/2006/03/sealing-marble-acid-test.html">the test results</a>, I kept saying 'every horizontal surface in Italy is made of it and it's been around for hundreds of years and will still be beautiful for hundreds more. But the overwhelming advice on Australian kitchen sites is that marble is not suitable for a kitchen benchtop. And we couldn't afford it.<br />
<br />
So the next benchtop choice was a manufactured stone product. Ceasarstone White Snow. Ceasarstone White Snow. Snow Ceasarstone. Everywhere I looked I saw Snow Ceasarstone. Or Osprey Ceasarstone. Nougat Ceasarstone. But I didn't like the speckles. I wanted grey veins in my benchtop.<br />
<br />
I wanted marble. Couldn't afford marble, regardless of the practicality issues.<br />
<br />
So I continued to look at options, and I found one. <a href="http://www.smartstone.com.au/assets/Smartstone_Brochure.pdf">Smartstone Carerra</a>. I was a bit anxious about the choice because I had only seen small samples of it which looked great, but some of the online images made the veining look kind of brown. And I didn't want brown veins, I wanted grey veins! I took the risk, and ordered it anyway.<br />
<br />
Yesterday it was installed. The veining was far more subtle than I expected, but not in a disappointing way. In a kind of 'oh my' way. The honed finish is just so smooth and cold to the touch, it really does look like natural stone. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6884358503/" title="waterfall end by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/6884358503_4aba1bcb9d.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="waterfall end"></a><br />
<br />
It's not marble, but man it looks like it!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6884360921/" title="waterfall mitred edge by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7057/6884360921_49757315e1.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="waterfall mitred edge"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6884370461/" title="benchtop in by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7067/6884370461_c604e56123.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="benchtop in "></a><br />
<br />
Next up: splashback decisions... and then maybe we can get this half a kitchen firing up! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6884368329/" title="benchtop carrera smartstone by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7039/6884368329_e20f2c224a.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="benchtop carrera smartstone"></a><br />
<br />
(the first few days of the 12WBT challenge have been fun! And I'm a full 2.6kg down on when I signed up. The food, whilst in honesty is not plentiful, is very delicious, and I don't hate exercise any more so the workouts have been fun too. So far, so good!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-34487079363082770852012-02-09T23:50:00.001+11:002012-02-09T23:55:19.365+11:00There was movement at the station ...Remember this?<br />
<br />
<b>BEFORE</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6846017093/" title="kitchen old by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7186/6846017093_950951b840.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="kitchen old"></a><br />
<br />
Now it looks like this!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6846035789/" title="DSC_0009 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7160/6846035789_40249718c4.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0009"></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Originally the room had an opening from the living room into the kitchen directly in front of the entry door. So when you walked into the house you saw this. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6846033135/" title="doorway by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7055/6846033135_a4d3e7e084.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="doorway"></a><br />
<br />
Yuk.<br />
<br />
With the assistance of the building Buddha, we closed this wall off and put in a stud wall in gyprock. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6846032077/" title="2012 02 02_2962 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7170/6846032077_042d448519.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="2012 02 02_2962"></a><br />
<br />
After getting four terrifyingly high quotes from kitchen companies, we ended up going for a semi diy approach with the rest of the job. <br />
<br />
We pulled the old kitchen out ourselves, and put a board on the wall to cover up the old grout and wall at the back. Later on, this wall will be completely knocked out and open up into a hallway and staircase to the basement. <br />
<br />
The kitchen cupboard units were bought from <a href="http://www.kitchenpoint.com.au/">Harvey Norman Kitchen Point</a>, not flat pack (thank god) but only half assembled. The drawer fronts and runners had to be screwed in and inserted into the units, a job which is time consuming and fiddly. I know this by observation only, as my husband tackled this task for the base cabinets.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6846177537/" title="kitchen units by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7178/6846177537_a138211f05.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="kitchen units"></a><br />
<br />
The quote from Harvey Norman to install the cupboards was astronomical, and they wanted $200 on top per day for 'travel' from Sydney, so I looked for a local installer. Word of mouth led me to engage the services of a lovely cabinet maker who tackled the job for less than a third of the price that I was quoted from Harvey Norman.<br />
<br />
He's not quite finished yet, the top cupboard fronts are still to be attached, and the benchtop and splashback are on order. <br />
<br />
It's a full 3.6m of straight bench space, broken up only by the cooktop. I cannot beleive we've managed to put so much kitchen into such a tiny space, nor how much the white gloss cabinets reflect light and make the space look bigger than it really is. <br />
<br />
Stupidly excited about Wednesday, when the benchtop is due to arrive. Until then though, we're eating solely from the kettle, an electric frypan, a toasted sandwich maker and a George Foreman grill. <br />
<br />
And the next stage is the sink side. But for now I'm going to be over the moon with my brand new shiny half a kitchen. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6846035789/" title="DSC_0009 by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7160/6846035789_40249718c4.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0009"></a><br />
<br />
If you want to see more of the reno pictures, I've created a flickr set <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/sets/72157628081943856/">over here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-52809695211220818082012-01-10T22:01:00.002+11:002012-01-10T22:08:21.299+11:00More 2011 - this time with stats!In 2011 I accomplished something I have always wanted to do, but never thought I'd ever be able. I learned to run! Sure I do it in intervals, but still - I totally get there. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFdMXFngCn_gCJ8THSN0PV9i3lSK4oL9xUnczCvGidyuBr2GFzacFNcPGf_DmV7Q8w-s1lf015HeR1oOHNzS_NBAnAJNiuN7EvyZMOjKSqGK-jn7t-nHzZLbLdk60OwhchQU-1cAZyIjC/s1600/2011+06+11_1799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="299" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFdMXFngCn_gCJ8THSN0PV9i3lSK4oL9xUnczCvGidyuBr2GFzacFNcPGf_DmV7Q8w-s1lf015HeR1oOHNzS_NBAnAJNiuN7EvyZMOjKSqGK-jn7t-nHzZLbLdk60OwhchQU-1cAZyIjC/s400/2011+06+11_1799.JPG" /></a></div><br />
According to <a href="http://runkeeper.com/home">runkeeper</a>, a gps tracking fitness program that tracks everything - I started in April 2011, and I ran 96 times and covered a distance of 507 km. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTzaas1m9q2f-R3eF64BbAPabIZxf8udanlXiSdOlYUjS76Y16qYb9cj_F-rxTXP0dmq8o1vqRh6Di_YOFgeO3JrzFdKozGHHSmN3FXYi7Fwk4o_CHETll5e3N9umX2Hie7x24IDPecIV/s1600/2011+06+03_1511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="299" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTzaas1m9q2f-R3eF64BbAPabIZxf8udanlXiSdOlYUjS76Y16qYb9cj_F-rxTXP0dmq8o1vqRh6Di_YOFgeO3JrzFdKozGHHSmN3FXYi7Fwk4o_CHETll5e3N9umX2Hie7x24IDPecIV/s400/2011+06+03_1511.JPG" /></a></div><br />
My busiest month was August, when I ran a total of 127 km. It was also my fastest average month, with an average pace of 7.59 min/km.<br />
<br />
So now I feel confident in my ability to actually do running - it's time to work on different issues - my weight and my speed. So I signed up for something. It's a little cheesy. It's kind of embarrassing. But so many people have had such wonderful results, and it looks like a ton of fun. <br />
<br />
I'm going to do <a href="http://www.12wbt.com/round-1-2012/pre-season">Michelle Bridges' 12 Week Body Transformation program</a> - the all singing all dancing social media integrated email based exercise and diet program that starts as a team and ends in a group workout and a big party. To be honest, it's the prospect of big party was probably the hook that got me the most. I fear it's going to be tough, but fun! <br />
<br />
And hopefully, by the end of the 12 weeks, I'll be able to run 5k in under 30 mins, and by extension 10k in under an hour. That's my fitness goal.<br />
<br />
And when I do the Blackmore's Half Marathon next year, I want to look equally as happy but not quite as heavy as I looked last year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtRWY4RKWxxRui2DhX6GEccMqId2hW1gKdleUmJbRVmHRhsKuGqZk4tk2Zad2yM3cP05vaxEgNvD9_AGh6lla4vjjlltJEnQowCE8jRQILvUr0p10hi19ymSUG2wdMKacleOih3mrMBj2/s1600/Ailsa+Running.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtRWY4RKWxxRui2DhX6GEccMqId2hW1gKdleUmJbRVmHRhsKuGqZk4tk2Zad2yM3cP05vaxEgNvD9_AGh6lla4vjjlltJEnQowCE8jRQILvUr0p10hi19ymSUG2wdMKacleOih3mrMBj2/s400/Ailsa+Running.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
And all I want for Christmas in 2012 is some collarbones.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWBV9megP9yc5NvhroLtaHL6H4ge8KVQMyNGYSv-UB9Nu-qpn8XL3Awplo_5839nnOi-ihC8N1YJpEtm9xD4MCFEihyphenhyphenHbwhbZJy_TnCQkbKSw8q6t8ZUHd8viJqKA1FC3iIhre3NqDgUs/s1600/2011+09+12_2233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWBV9megP9yc5NvhroLtaHL6H4ge8KVQMyNGYSv-UB9Nu-qpn8XL3Awplo_5839nnOi-ihC8N1YJpEtm9xD4MCFEihyphenhyphenHbwhbZJy_TnCQkbKSw8q6t8ZUHd8viJqKA1FC3iIhre3NqDgUs/s400/2011+09+12_2233.JPG" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-8300450509712042592012-01-09T21:49:00.000+11:002012-01-09T21:49:26.204+11:00Rest and Repeat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I love camping so much. For a family that spends most of it's time plugged into something electronic, I think we do okay in the great outdoors.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6666030165/" title="Christmas Day by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6666030165_d596e38221.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Christmas Day"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6666051135/" title="exploring by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6666051135_7282d77679.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="exploring"></a><br />
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The wildlife and the scenery were outstanding this year - so wonderful to be able to witness these things in real life. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6666034373/" title="sun came out by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7023/6666034373_f44df6033f.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="sun came out"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6666047355/" title="I love you too by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6666047355_391e9816d9.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="I love you too"></a><br />
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When the boys and kids pitched the tents, the day before I arrived (like blisters I arrived after the work was finished), they had to wait for a slow old echidna to get out of the way. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6666042337/" title="Scared mum to death by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6666042337_94f8619a09.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Scared mum to death"></a><br />
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On one of our walks, we saw a massive sea eagle swooping dramatically overhead with TWO huge fish dangling from it's talons - must have had a family to feed somewhere. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6666038299/" title="long and winding road by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6666038299_8a1a3dfd93.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="long and winding road"></a><br />
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The sea was teeming with whiting, toadfish and sea urchins. The birdlife was diverse and noisy, and mosquitos fierce like fire ants! <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6666059143/" title="rock hopping by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6666059143_a579dbc815.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="rock hopping"></a><br />
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I like to hope the kids will remember these things as they grow older and the real world gets more complicated and intense for them.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6666065027/" title="Kayaking by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7020/6666065027_4ed50be9aa.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Kayaking"></a><br />
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There were hours of beachcombing, the discovery of ochres in bright colours for face painting, exploring the rocks, kayaking (did I tell you I finally got a KAYAK!! for Christmas?), fishing, boating and feasting from both the fire and the local cafes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6666062557/" title="Ochres by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6666062557_89c63e560a.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Ochres"></a><br />
A side trip to Bermagui convinced me that if I could choose anywhere on earth to live, I'd choose the far south coast, with a little bolthole in Surry Hills!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitabulous/6666068829/" title="FacePainterWarrior by knitabulous, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7030/6666068829_a45685cc31.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="FacePainterWarrior"></a><br />
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Happy New Year Everyone.<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-22421072301609369552012-01-01T12:44:00.000+11:002012-01-01T12:44:44.705+11:00And so are the days of our lives<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">We're off camping down the coast for a week or so of relaxation. But before I go I'll share a few montages of 2011 to bid farewell to one of the most tumultuous years I've ever had.<br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The second half of 2011 trailed off miserably for me in more ways than knitting, but looking back there were more finished items than I would have thought in 2011. There were less cardigans, no shawls at all, more socks. Less purple, more yellow. More grey. Not enough red.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2011 the knit first half </b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XxX9cT0Tv4M/Tv-quct07pI/AAAAAAAAApk/8u8bh3bmPFI/s1600/mosaic6f3e987cbcf3a5b634eeba47b354979f07dce3ea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XxX9cT0Tv4M/Tv-quct07pI/AAAAAAAAApk/8u8bh3bmPFI/s320/mosaic6f3e987cbcf3a5b634eeba47b354979f07dce3ea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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1. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/22769641@N00/5355966871/">sunny spread 1</a>, 2. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/22769641@N00/5480292017/">plain and simple pullover</a>, 3. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/22769641@N00/5457485036/">DSC_0134</a>, 4. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/22769641@N00/5342054379/">shurtugal</a>, 5. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/22769641@N00/5810442697/">kingscot2</a>, 6. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/22769641@N00/5868235782/">bubblewrap</a>, 7. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/22769641@N00/5660851712/">DSC_0226</a>, 8. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/22769641@N00/5626250491/">sugar and cream cowl</a>, 9. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/22769641@N00/5557478457/">pendragon 4</a><br />
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2011 the knits second half</b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0rLlLYmL0JM/Tv-rX8dag2I/AAAAAAAAApw/zHGJpEdVSsA/s1600/mosaic1301f80f14bb88e5b0b38a8233d80e1068ef0a7f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0rLlLYmL0JM/Tv-rX8dag2I/AAAAAAAAApw/zHGJpEdVSsA/s320/mosaic1301f80f14bb88e5b0b38a8233d80e1068ef0a7f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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1. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/22769641@N00/6282986338/">tablecloth</a>, 2. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/22769641@N00/6194598228/">african flower crochet</a>, 3. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/22769641@N00/5895328447/">zpagetti cushion</a>, 4. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/22769641@N00/6609469549/">marlene</a>, 5. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/22769641@N00/6519817089/">ornamentowl</a>, 6. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/22769641@N00/6609484367/">vivien leigh gloves</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6128/5968625751_2a27378ed3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6128/5968625751_2a27378ed3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Probably my favourite knit of all year is my manu. I call it supermanu - because I wore it all the time last winter. Love it.<br />
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I like to take some time at the beginning of each year to plan the knits for the year. I never end up sticking to the plan hardly at all (hello Morrigan! been in the plan for about four years now - and they've DISCONTINUED the calmer. Luckily I stocked up years ago for it.)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And so, I declare 2012 the year of knitting the difficult knits from my ravelry queue.. </b></span><br />
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Even though I often swear that I'll never knit another triangular shawl - when you've had enough of something you've had enough of it, I also swear never say never! Damask has been on my wishlist since it was released. I even started it this year with some seasilk I bought from destash - but the colour was wrong. I think this may be calling out for some wollmeise, don't you? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YJi-YapXXxY/Tv-vao4kv5I/AAAAAAAAAp8/RZzF3VlBKpQ/s1600/damask+shawl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YJi-YapXXxY/Tv-vao4kv5I/AAAAAAAAAp8/RZzF3VlBKpQ/s320/damask+shawl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/damask-6">Damask</a>, by Kitman Figuera - image from the source. Speaking of Wollmeise - you MUST <a href="http://kitfig.com/2011/10/29/my-play-pad/">click here</a> to see Kitman's beautiful photograph of her Wollmeise stash. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gcNiH2Erydc/Tv-xh7NxdZI/AAAAAAAAAqI/QsIxoOlC14A/s1600/bohus+forest+darkness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gcNiH2Erydc/Tv-xh7NxdZI/AAAAAAAAAqI/QsIxoOlC14A/s320/bohus+forest+darkness.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2007782186"><br />
</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bohus-forest-darkness">Bohus Forest Darkness</a> - <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/theyarniad/bohus-forest-darkness">image from the incredible project made by the yarniad</a> - the whole thing on 2mm needles, which I've mentioned before. I just can't stop thinking about this jumper. Even though it won't suit me, and I would never wear a jumper like it, I want to make one very badly. Maybe 2012 will be the year for it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S5tR4hfOI7k/Tv-yknL5sJI/AAAAAAAAAqU/_BoZfwjZHUs/s1600/chaleur-07_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S5tR4hfOI7k/Tv-yknL5sJI/AAAAAAAAAqU/_BoZfwjZHUs/s320/chaleur-07_medium2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chaleur">Chaleur</a>, by Julie Hoover. Image from the Ravelry Pattern Page found at the link. Now it doesn't look difficult, but ask anyone who's attempted a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/henry">Henry scarf</a> or anything else in herringbone - that easy pattern is deceptively difficult to keep track of. When I mentioned this knit to my knitter buddies, Kris said "That is the most Ailsa thing. If I saw that in a shop I'd call you and tell you about it." Now, how often does someone say that to you? I definitely want to knit this top for winter 2012.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NM8vO3UlVb0/Tv-08D1JjmI/AAAAAAAAAqg/Z3NYLiO4nVk/s1600/morrigan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NM8vO3UlVb0/Tv-08D1JjmI/AAAAAAAAAqg/Z3NYLiO4nVk/s320/morrigan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Morrigan. Gets a guernsey every year. Rowan tragically discontinued the Calmer, so luckily I stocked up a few years ago to make this jumper. I really want to knit this jumper. Every time I get the pattern out, the number, scale and sheer complexity of the charts put me off starting it. I know that once I got going it'd be ok, but taking the first step is the biggest obstacle!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1tdOhpHFnI/Tv-2tCUJiwI/AAAAAAAAAqs/l46uLtWWDI8/s1600/hollywood+herringbone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1tdOhpHFnI/Tv-2tCUJiwI/AAAAAAAAAqs/l46uLtWWDI8/s320/hollywood+herringbone.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hollywood-herringbone-pullover">Hollywood Herringbone Pullover</a> by Kate Gagnan Osborn in Knitscene 2009. I don't have the pattern, and was excited when Kylie gave me the best of Knitscene book for my birthday, but alas, although it's featured as a story, the pattern isn't in there. The bonus of knitting this top is that it's a double whammy - not only do I want to knit the jumper, I want to try the Fibre Company Organic it's made from as well. <br />
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That's a pretty tall wishlist order isn't it? But I prefer high goals to low ones. I'm an all or nothing kind of person I suppose.<br />
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On that note, happy New Year to you all! I look forward to blogging more in 2012 about the house renovation, food, exercise as well as knitting - a big change from my deliberate stick to the knitting policy! I hope you don't mind ...<br />
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Be back in late Jan ...<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1115005384288167779.post-58803933613310806782011-12-23T17:40:00.000+11:002011-12-23T17:40:51.994+11:00What switched on the Christmas Spirit.I wasn't feeling very Christmassy this year. I was sad - I love Christmas usually but this year I haven't been able to muster the energy to get into it. There's a tree, there's some presents under it, there's some lights out the front, but apart from that I've been feeling a bit blah about the whole thing.<br />
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That was until the Office Secret Santa. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6IixHGabOkBfuYrfWZVpTR-zuxn47Tmp6zc6mugGf6iRYDQ5uMdZrcnhuTT1mx061WO_0UMYXdzWZLaVbvXgUf3ulI2PiYVpJNXz2pBg5SmyLNoo9lsBVBBpjuMBef5NqHC4sl9ymslZ/s1600/2011+12+22_2685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="299" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6IixHGabOkBfuYrfWZVpTR-zuxn47Tmp6zc6mugGf6iRYDQ5uMdZrcnhuTT1mx061WO_0UMYXdzWZLaVbvXgUf3ulI2PiYVpJNXz2pBg5SmyLNoo9lsBVBBpjuMBef5NqHC4sl9ymslZ/s400/2011+12+22_2685.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Highlights of the morning: Biggest guy in the office sits on santa's knee - santa says 'fuck me dead' - bad santa. A gift voucher to a pretty and quiet young thing elicited 'Cool. I'll probably buy cigarettes with that'. All that and a bbq chicken shop lunch and I was all set to get festive.<br />
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We decorated the Gingerbread House.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZG79X7SEOcW5vZZvPIN9OjR_1q1U3Qg1gnUTP-uru3GLwdCg8vAzwHHTTY6s4DzLRPsETSCHLPzzqQwWUxLDPgnysLnruuVdUKFG0E8gwtSouXiSGAp8RD9VMph0wI8A2WEmVXCHG_zL/s1600/gingerbread+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZG79X7SEOcW5vZZvPIN9OjR_1q1U3Qg1gnUTP-uru3GLwdCg8vAzwHHTTY6s4DzLRPsETSCHLPzzqQwWUxLDPgnysLnruuVdUKFG0E8gwtSouXiSGAp8RD9VMph0wI8A2WEmVXCHG_zL/s400/gingerbread+house.jpg" /></a></div><br />
And I sat down and watched Love Actually on the telly. A big favourite of mine. I cry every time. <br />
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The cliched Christmas trifecta worked a treat for me. Bring it, bad santa!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1