Sad

Sad.......

RIP Carmello

Have edited post as very emotional at time of writing. Money has been returned, foster Mum has said sorry and explained that she truly thought he would do better with individual care, still doesn't excuse breaking policy. I suppose I thought he would do better with us as well.

Wow

Published my Strawberry Cardigan on Ravelry even without a pattern has been favourited 15 times in two days. Must write out at least a basic pattern for people

My First Design - The Strawberry Cardigan

Since Last Post

The twins arrived yesterday at 32 weeks, not sure how all is going. Called the hospital today and said best wait till the weekend before talking to my BF, obviously they can't disclose anything and I don't want to hassle her hubby as I'm sure his plate is full. So just waiting anxiously for hopefully good news

Getting Knitting priorities in order

I've been a bit over the place with projects (and generally I suppose) , Annis has been cast on 5 times without success. So have decided to start a pumpkin hat I have a request for. Another lady at work had previously requested I knit some baby stuff for a friend of hers. So last weekend dug out some baby patterns for her to peruse and took them to work. She then announced she was having her own little unexpected surprise. So more baby stuff to knit. She has inspired me to design something though, so excited about that , just in my head at the moment.

In addition my best friend is expecting twins at 47, so I think she has been on my mind a lot as very worried for her. She has to keep them cooking for another 5 weeks or so and has really had enough now. Given they will be a few weeks premmie and small thought I'd better get cracking on something for them as well. One little cardigan down and have started another, then will do some beanies  they might need in the hospital.

Spoilt myself with a Knitpro Interchangeable needle set, so now have to do some stuff to pay for them. Was originally going to get some Addi Lace Set. My LYS owner pointed out that Knitpro were cheaper and easier  to get parts for and this particular set had sizes 3mm to 6mm with all the sizes in between with 4 cords and cord ends and a few other extras. The tips should be sharp enough for lace. So it's pretty much what l will need for most projects I will do. I do love the symphonie wood and love my sock needle set. Did have a problem with one of the cords but no problem to exchange it straight away.

So that's me with my brain a bit in order for now

Tassie

Just back from a lovely few days in Tassie to attend my Aunt & Uncle's 60th Wedding Anniversary.
I made this for the occasion. It was a lovely catch up and meeting of family members.

Also got to visit a new yarn shop in Hobart called "The Stash Cupboard" , probably the best yarn shop I've been to. A lot of American Yarns such as Fyberspates, Sweet Georgia, Lorna's Laces, Cascade  etc etc.

Temptation got me with a beautiful teal shade of Sweet Georgia Merino Silk Lace and some purple Fyberspates Scrumptious Lace. then off to the Tasmanian Woollen Co. and Mum bought some Local Jennmark Alpacas Hand Dyed 4ply 100% Alpaca. They also stock more of the European Brands and Biggan, so all in all would be in deep financial trouble if I lived near Hobart.

Dry

Capelet Blocking

Yep finished , fair bit shorter than pattern as ran out of yarn , but I'm a fair bit shorter than the average person so I'm not anticipating a problem.

Now to my shawl , wound yarn into a ball last night....3 hours later phew. Annis it will be , I think this will only use half the yarn as skein was 1400m.

Lot of baby stuff to knit (don't know what yet) my BF is expecting twin boys in Dec/Jan. Same day she dropped this bombshell, girl at work asked if I could do some knitting for her to give to a friend.

A Little Anniversary Break

It was our 20th Anniversary on Wednesday and since we haven't had a holiday for probably 10 years, decided to spoil ourselves at Somewhere Unique at Wollombi. Only 2 hrs drive and a very lovely spot.

A very relaxing few days was had, very much needed with a teenager not working and forever needing money for dancing and hubby trying to set up business full time. She does wish to make a career of out it, but classes were seeming to become an excuse not to get a job. I suppose I've been a bit soft allowing her to follow her dreams. But now being 18 she really get some work experience and show how much she wants this dream. Anyway a kind friend gave her the funds to complete tickets to be a Stop /Slow sign person and we made it clear that you do not look a gift horse in the mouth and that she may need to sacrifice some classes to get some money together if she wishes to study full time. So courses are booked and we will go to the NSW Uni Open Day as well as ACPE which also offers Bachelor of Dance Ed.

Wollombi also has a Wool Store, lovely little shop in  a historic setting with top class yarn , Biggan , Jo Sharp, Filatura Di Crossa, Misti Alpaca and Noro etc. They have a full range of Addi and Knit Pro needles ( can see my Addi Click Set expanding). Lovely ladies and a web store to be open very shortly . Spoilt myself to this

Centolavaggi by  Filatura Di Crossa , it is devinely soft lace weight merino, and sets my challenge to myself to knit a lace shawl
Thinking of either Annis or Travelling Woman being first attempt at a lace shawl, but open to suggestions.

First Challenge to finish The Burnham Wood Capelet

A Birthday Cupcake

I have a friend at work named Joy (very aptly) she has a bright and bubbly personality. Her laughter from the other end of this office always brings a smile to my face and brightens my day. She loves bright colours, so I made her a  bright cupcake hat for her birthday. Enlarged this pattern.

Cadet Hat a Success and another Cupcake

Burnham Wood Capelet

So picked up the Capelet again, worked out where I was at, and then discovered why I put it down. Mistake in cable, so had to frog a few rows. Actually not that far to go but an increase of 100 stitches , 10 every 4 rows. Nothing more complicated to do. Just lacking concentration due to virus, luckily no infections , just feel lethargic with a persistent dry cough. Hubby came down with bad chest infection which set off his asthma, DD a head cold, so affecting people in different ways.

Hat Pics

The Cadet Hat complete, not sure how the peak will sit, no one to practice on. The cupcake finished but my friend ended up with an ectopic pregnancy so not a good idea to give at the moment. Not sure about the bee hat but a lady at work may like for her first grandchild expected soon. Working on a toddler size cupcake now. Enjoying just making them up as i go along , obviously inspired by lots of other people's work, but trying to work out hoe things are for myself. Thinking I really need to go back to Burnham Wood Capelet, it's  going to be a challenge to work out where I got up too, but could use my new Addis on it :-)

More little Hats

Have done another strawberry as work friend requested to give to a friend who just had a premmie baby.
Working on another cupcake for the lady who made my daughter's birthday cake, she was going to put as decoration for her work desk, but has just found out she is pregnant with her 2nd, so may get used yet. Will do another for my BF's daughter as well, and have had interest in a adult size one.  Want to make this for the the little son of the lady who made the cake, she wouldn't accept what I thought the cake was worth so I said she'll just have accept some knitted items to make up for it.

My Baby Girl is 18

My girl turned 18 today. So very proud of the beautiful caring young woman she is.

Good news for her last Friday , she has got a job working for a company delivering fitness training to primary school students. The unemployment issue as been a bone of contention for awhile (our only one , so can't complain too much). This enables her to continue with all her dancing being school hours. Just waiting to see how much work she will get when timetables are done.

Personally, my birthday presents finally arrived a week late, an Addi Click Interchangeable Needle Set and fully adjustable craft stand. Would have loved the Symphonie Rose Set by Knit Pro as they are very pretty, but reviews seem to indicate the Addi's were better to use, so went that way. With 18th Party organising haven't had time to try out yet.

If you're in Sydney and looking for party catering and like Pizza I can thoroughly recommend http://www.basickneadspizza.com.au. A lovely young couple and lovely pizzas, very good to deal with.

This is my daughter's cake, a friend at work took on this challenge with only months experience under her belt, needless to say we think she's awesome. 

50 projects finished in 6 months

Made it.......you can see them at ravelry...user name CoppaTop

Left some at my ruffle scarves at my massage therapist office as she offered to display and try and sell them, I thought $20 was reasonable, but apparently it's expensive and one person commented they got one for $5, would even cover the cost of the yarn in most cases, so only 1 sold.  Perhaps I am better concentrating on cute hats for babies :-/

Two Done

A challenge to myself

At the beginning of the year I had 52 projects on Ravelry, I now have 98 so the challenge can I complete 50 projects by June 30, have 3 unfinished so that's 4 more in to complete in 8 days. The latest pictured above and an Ice Tango scarf, another type of ruffle yarn.

Cupcake

Bit proud worked the top half, worked it out for myself , wanted the swirly icing effect, and this yarn in the stash was made for it with flecks of colour to represent sprinkles, just working out a cherry on top

What to do

Have been in that place "what do I start next" , with thousands of things going through my mind. Been thinking of what to do for an old family friends daughter who has now got some very long awaited twins. so cupcake hats , strawberry hats , pumpkin hats etc etc. The house has reflected the confusion with me going through my stashes to get ideas and sorting yarn into piles for different project ideas. Have spent heaps of time of Ravelry researching

I gave a ruffle scarf to my Daughter's dance teacher for her birthday a few weeks ago , it was done length ways as I wanted to have it two tone but lengthwise in her studio colours, so cast about 128 stitches and only had to do 8 rows. She like the effect so asked me to do something similar thing for an end of year costume. So have 5 shorter ones to do as a kind of  bussell/ruffle on a leotard. Have completed 2 and a half but ran out of black yarn so waiting on the order to arrive, along with some other type of ruffle yarn I haven't tried yet and some yarn to make my daughter a CPH.

In the meantime I have made my husband a knee warmer in Patonyle. Last weekend going through the craftroom's cupboards, hubby came in and said when are you going to finish my cross stitch (think I started about 10 years ago) so have done a bit more on it, mostly white on white to do now , so not very exciting and lots of one off colour stitches (my fault I made the pattern from a photo and wanted it as realistic as possible).
If you go back a few years in the you'll see a few months where I worked on it everyday in an attempt to get it finished for Mark Scaife's retirement, got enough done for it to be autographed, but once that was done put it down again.

Then on Friday night the dance teacher, ordered some more socks for her boy as has grown out of last years I gave her, he's four and in a size ten shoe! So the pair after this I'll probably have to make the same size as what I do for myself.

So friday night , cast on a sock and a cupcake hat, don't normally more than one at a time, since having this blog has mostly cured my UFO problem (knitting not cross stitch unfortunately). Sock is going a lot faster than the hat, but it's OK.

Picked up some new glasses today, my first try at multi-focal, might be able to see the TV and knit now.

Relay for Life

Participating in the Relay for Life on the weekend in Penrith if you're interested in donating, the link is http://relay.cancercouncil.com.au/2012/penrith_2012/Walkers--Taxes-Rangers/301552.

Have had a week off so far, haven't achieved much, went into work for a bake sale to help raise funds for the above, we did really well nearly raising $1000. Other than that have found car insurance that will save me $850 a year and organised my daughter's upcoming 18th birthday party. Had heaps of plans that just haven't come to fruition, ended with lots of little errands to be done.

A highlight though was seeing Men in Pink tights - brilliant and funny, recommended

.

Lots of OT

Have worked 12 out last 14 days with average over 10 hours on weekdays, but it's rare so have to take advantage of it.  

Still managed to get 3 ruffle scarves done and finish the hat, mitten scarf set.  

Got the courage to apply for a market stall but got no response, so bit of a let down. What the hell will take all my scarves to work and see if anyone wants to buy them before Mother's Day. As a team event at work we've entered The Relay for Life, so might be able to do some fund raising with them.

Happy Easter

A happy bouncy shot of my husband's Welsh Springer Spaniel , hope everybody has this much of a good time over the break.

Bit Slow

Have been slowed down by a virus a bit for the last few weeks , everytime i feel alright it throws another symptom at me, right now trying to ignore the slight swelling and pain in my tonsils, have had a week off and being Sunday don't really want to go and find a medical centre and sit there for a few hours.

Finished a Inca Scarf yesterday and on a second attempt of a slouchy beret, first one had too many stitches and was just wrong, no using patterns and want to see items in my stall that i'm thinking about. 

A Scarf to Tassie

This should be received by the recipient by now. Mum wanted something to take to her sister in Tasmania who she is visiting this week, and didn't think my ruffles would suit. Found this Sean Sheep mohair blend yarn in Big W and thought it was quite pretty  used it too make Drops Design Petula, it's actually called a neck warmer and is joined into a circle.

The Story So Far

Busy Scarving

Up to working on # 17 & 18 scarves now. Not all ruffles as want a variety  Have been busy with that and getting ideas from the internet, my head is swimming now. Will post some pics when can get them, raining and miserable again here.  

Took Mum to see Love Never Dies today - brilliant!!

Two More Scarves

Another ruffle scarf, this time with Mode Vera Fishnet Fever, $6.00 at Spotlight and as good quality as any other. Thought I might actually try to knit a ruffle scarf with normal yarn , so found the Amazing Curly Scarf pattern here. Only 16 rows but ended up with 1280 stitches to cast off, took over two hours. Now to try a crochet ruffle, hopefully not as painful on the hands.

The pink is pinker in real life and there is purple among the browns in the second pic, if I wait till I can get decent light, I'll never post any pics especially with our weather here

More Results, more good news

So after nearly a month of tests, It seems the numbness in my finger and arm was probably due to a pinched nerve by tension in a muscle in my shoulder. I now also know I do not have a problem with arteries in my neck, my upper spine and neck are OK, my nerves in my arms are ok and apart from benign lumps in my thyroid  and a couple of extra ribs ( both common) all is normal. Thank Goodness for Medicare that I could have all these tests without cost and thorough doctor.

Finished my 5th ruffle scarf, this time with a generic yarn more like ribbon , didn't even have a name in English on it, just that it was knitting yarn, did have diagrams on how to knit it though.

Would load pics, but this new blogger format won't do anything when I press the "choose File" button on my tablet :-(

Good News

Got results back from a biopsy on a lump on my thyroid they found when doing tests to try and find out why i have some numbness in my finger.It's not uncommon for people to have lumps on their thyroid, but when they are over 1cm , they like to do a biopsy, mine was 1.1 cms. Most lumps are benign so it was unlikely to be bad result but weighs on your mind just the same. So got the all clear today. Consequently wasn't feeling the cheeriest last Thursday so decided instead of comfort food i would get comfort yarn. After a success of the first ruffle scarf decided they would be good mother's day gifts for my DD's godmother's. So dropped into the Wool Inn on my way to the car after work and bought two more balls of yarn, 2 different types. Then went what the heck I'll go down the road to Lincraft. There I bought another 8 balls of yarn to make ruffle scarves, of course about a quarter of the price, quality yet to be determined. So with that success headed to the other side of the shopping complex to Spotlight and bought some more ruffle yarn and some other fancy yarns that were on special, as my thoughts had extended to cushions as well as scarves for my stall i've been thinking about. So the godmother's scarves are done and now working on number 4 ruffle scarf.

My First Ruffle Scarf

My favourite purple with gold,was in spired to make this after attending a small market in St Marys on the weekend. There was a stall there with the usual baby stuff knit and crochet which was all lovely but has a limited appeal these days I think. So my thoughts have gone to scarves, berets, fingerless gloves etc. So with the euphoria that the creative moment brings went off to the Wool Inn Penrith and was confronted by masses of ruffle yarn. Been thinking of a few of these as gifts,so thought would try out one for myself given there was some yarn in my absolute favourite shade of purple. Has taken two evenings as seems a bit fiddly to start but with 7stitches and just being garter stitch is very quick. At the beginning was trying to get as close as possible to the edge of the tape which isn't necessary . So thoughts are of a little stall of trendy accessories, we'll see. Missed Super Macro Sunday,caught up thinking of ideas for the stall

Sunday Super Macro

With inspiration from Cathie's Wordless Wednesday, I've decided to do Sunday's Super Macro , a picture taken with the Super Macro Setting on my camera