Noro Cashmere Flavor And Japanese Crochet Motifs

The Noro Cashmere Flavor arrived yesterday morning.
I think it is absolutely exquisite:

The apricot skein is colourway number 5 and the purple skeins are colourway number 4.
(You can see what they look like knitted up if you look in Maschenkunst, the company that I purchased the yarn from. If you click on the American flag the site will be translated into English. Photos can be found in the Noro pages of both the Yarn section and the Gallery section.
Sorry ~ the site won't let me link the individual pages that show the photos, but they're gorgeous and well worth a look.)

Now I just have to decide which one I want to use to crochet the Garden Party Wrap. Maybe I'll make two!

I've also been playing with some patterns from the Japanese book Crochet Motif Item that I bought last year,
after getting inspiration from Kwoozy's lovely work,
with the idea that I'll make a scarf out of one of the patterns using some Anny Blatt mohair from my yarn stash.

This is motif number 30:

and this is motif number 32:

The motifs are made out of kitchen string, which is easy to work with, as are the clearly drawn diagrams in the pattern book. Hmmm...it might be fun, and good practice, to crochet all of the motifs with jute and put them together into a floor rug.

...oh and, incidentally, if I ever get to be a good enough knitter I would love to make a pair of Rivendell socks. Aren't they beautiful?

Happy weekend everyone.

Feathers, Fans And Flowers

As regular readers of this blog will know,
I'm teaching myself how to knit.
I thought I'd increase my knitting skills by trying a lace project
and chose a beginner's lace scarf pattern and tutorial,
which promised to be easy,
blithely cast on
...then proceeded to wrestle with it all through the weekend.
Sigh.
I've had to start over again about ten times,
which has been very frustrating,
but,
actually,
I really need to learn how to fix up mistakes in knitting
(I find them much harder to deal with than mistakes in crochet)
so, when I think about it, it's all good ~
over the past three days I have learnt how to fix up unintentional increases,
I'm on my way to learning how to pick up dropped stitches,
I have discovered the invaluable technique of using lifelines
and I've produced this:




It's very small, it's very simple but I am so pleased with it.

...I'll leave you with a picture of an ivy geranium,
growing effortlessly and gracefully (unlike my knitting), at the back door:

Beautiful Yarn And A Sweet Dog

I'm doing my tax right now (erk),
consequently there hasn't been a lot of crafting happening around here.
So, in the absence of anything recent,
I thought I'd post about this beeeeeyoooooutiful wool I bought last year:

Scrumptious, isn't it?
It's a twin yarn set of handpainted millspun wool and handpainted handspun wool which I purchased from an indie one~woman Australian business called wooldancer.
I didn't have a pattern in mind when I bought it,
I just fell in love with the colours and textures and had to have it
...you know,
and I still haven't found a pattern that I want to use
so if anyone has any ideas I'd be glad to hear them.
Meanwhile, I'm using the wool as an objet d'art and displaying it on the piano which some of my less arty friends think is a little bit odd.

...and,
in other exciting and yarn related news,
I have just ordered my first~ever skeins of Noro wool.
I'm going to use them to crochet Kim Guzmann's new pattern
The Garden Party Wrap. I've bought the Noro from a store in Germany (I couldn't get it anywhere else) and I'm having it sent by seamail rather than by airmail in an attempt to be green (surface shipping saves carbon emissions...there's a really good article about this in Issue 9 of Yarn)
so I'll have to wait a while
...but I'm excited none the less.

Lastly, I'd like to introduce you all to the lovely Rocco.

I met Rocco,
who, in real life, is even more adorable than he looks,
when I was on holiday in Margaret River last year and I promised his mistress that I'd post a photo of him on the 'net.
(Sorry it's taken me so long, Leigh.)

Crochet Shopping Bag

A little while ago, I posted that I was going to crochet Inga's Bag with some Anchor Magicline I had in my stash. I was hoping to come up with something as lovely as this,
but I've realised that I need to have a multitude of colourways to achieve the look I like...and I only have one. Ho hum.

So, I've been playing with other crochet bag patterns like this and this
...and I've finally decided to have a go at designing my own.
I've started by crocheting a circular pattern for the base:

I've used the crochet circle recipe from Debbie Stoller's Happy Hooker (how I love this book.)

When the base is big enough, I'm going to crochet mesh sides using a v stitch...and I don't know how I'm going to do the handles yet, I'll wait until I get to them!

It's fun.
And, if it works out, I'll post the pattern here when I'm done.

Happy weekend, everybody!

Daisy Table

Thank you to all the people who noticed, and said nice things about, the mosaic table which was in one of the last photos I posted. I originally blogged about it here but I thought I'd write about its construction in a little more detail, for those of you who might be interested.

So,
I found a sweet little wrought iron table at the local St Vincent De Paul charity shop which was just the right size and shape to mosaic.
I created a big orange daisy design,
inspired by my seventies kitchen,
and worked outside for three full days,
mosaicing late into the evening
by candlelight
in the hush of my garden.
Bliss.

I made the mosaic out of wall tiles, mirrors and broken china. You can see all three materials in this close up:

(If I was to make it again, I'd build up the mirror and the china so that the centre of the table has a more even surface.)

Unfortunately, the next stage of making the table, grouting the tiles, was less than blissful. In my inexperience, I used too much acrylic paint to colour the grout and, when I put it on to the tiles, the grout filled with air bubbles and wouldn't dry properly. Sadly, grout takes minutes to apply but it takes ages to remove. I cried (literally) when I realised the enormity of the mistake I'd made...and I've been chipping the grout out, on and off, for the last three years.

Not surprisingly, I lost my momentum and the table has sat untouched for a long time. However, after some prompting by friends, and a pep~talk by a terrific mosaic artist called Chris, I decided to have another go at finishing the table in February. I used commercially coloured grout this time, applied it successfully ~ to my relief, and ended up with this:

Here's another close up
(showing just how deliciously smooth the new grout is) :

I am very, very happy to have finally finished it
and I'm also happy to report that I've rediscovered my enthusiasm for mosaicing. I've been gaining inspiration from Helen Baird and her book The Complete Practical Guide To Mosaics, Emma Biggs and Tessa Hunkin's fabulous text Mosaic Workshop and the wonderful work of Kaffe Fassett. I have also started preparing to mosaic my kitchen splashback
...and this time I'm booking into a mosaic studio so I can get immediate advice as I'm working.
Wish me luck!

Daffodil Stitch Vintage Tea Cosy

At the beginning of the year I posted about the Aussie Knitters Tea Cosy Swap I was involved in over at Ravelry. I posted pictures of the tea cosy I crocheted but didn't share any photos of the beautiful knitted tea cosy I received from my swap partner, Kate of Knights Don't Knit. Kate used a vintage pattern, from 1937, called the Daffodil Stitch Vintage Tea Cosy and she created the loveliest of details which included a clever undercosy, delicate flowers and delightful edgings.


Here's Kate's tea cosy, in all its gorgeousness:

Kate sent over lots of other goodies too, which you can see here
(on my freshly grouted mosaic table, Felicity!)

I was also given a tea infuser weighted with a sweet little red tea cup, organic english breakfast tea, a china tea flower (which I can’t wait to try), a card and bookmark decorated with lovely native Tasmanian flora, a pretty and ever~so practical small projects bag and matching crochet hook holder, two vividly coloured handmade candles, three balls of wool (hidden in the photo, I’m sorry) that match the tea cosy (I’m thinking that I’m going to make some egg cosies with these) and a wonderful Canadian pattern book for kitchen cloths. I just love the way Kate caught my colours, my love of things vintage and of things floral, even my preoccupation with dish cloths!

I am so spoilt!

Sedge Stitch Dishcloth

I've finished the bark sedge stitch dishcloth.






I love the colours, the pattern, the texture and the way they all swirl together.
Simple but satisfying.

Permission

I'm just getting over a nasty stomach bug.
Blech.
I'll spare you the horrible details
but I will say that being very sick gives one permission to focus completely on comfort and rest
...and that is a blessing.

Of course, comfort has involved a little crochet ~ last night I felt well enough to start making Inga's Bag out of some Anchorline cotton I have in my stash. It looks like it will be fun to do.

And, speaking of blessings,
I went out into the garden for the first time in days this morning and discovered a flush of roses, caught by the sunlight, at the back door:

Aren't they divine?

I also wanted to say thank you to all the lovely people who have left comments here of late, including some new visitors who've dropped by through Small Is Beautiful. I really appreciate the kind things you've said and, if I haven't already responded, I will as soon as I can.

Happy Sunday.

Unexpected Pleasure

Sometimes beautiful things happen unexpectedly,
like flowers suddenly blooming...

...and fellow bloggers giving you awards.

I was very grateful to receive a You Make My Day Award from the lovely Riggwelter, over at Jazzy Crafts


and an Art Award from my blog friend indigoblue

I'm really touched. Thank you!

The rules of the You Make My Day Award are:
"Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times."
and, for the Art Award:
"Post the award on your own blog.(Post who gave it to you)
Indicate its original link and link to that site. (The Award originally came fromArte Y Pico's Blog at,
http://artepico.blogspot.com/
from Uruguay)
Give the Award to 5 other blogs that you enjoy, find creative and inspire you."

I am going to present both Awards to:
Rachelle at Magpie Girl for writing with such sensitivity and helping to build a nourishing community ~ Small Is Beautiful,
Leah at Creative Everyday for her beautiful drawing and her lovely community, which is so inspiring,
Ellen at Los Angeles Is My Beat for her generosity and amazing creative output,
Peta at Createcraft for thought provoking, intelligent posts, beautiful craftwork and fabulous links,
Christina at Matroschka for her beautiful photography, fantastic etsy links, and the vicarious pleasure she provides by documenting how she is decorating her swish new apartment,
Kate at knights don't knit for her sense of fun and her incredible generosity (sometime very soon I'm going to post about the gorgeous gifts she gave me in a tea cosy swap),
Carola at my living room for organising the granny along blogspot which has brought me so much inspiration, motivation and connection,
and Lisamoon at dances on the moon for her honesty and lyricism and joyfulness (even in the midst of difficult life transitions).
I'd like to return the favour and award
Riggwelter at Jazzy Crafts for her warmth and beautiful knitting,
and indigoblue for her kindness and industriousness.

I really appreciate Blogland. I love how inspired I am by you all!

Simplicity

I recently bought myself a copy of Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick.
I love this book,
especially the way it celebrates simple, nourishing~to~the~soul, domestic comforts.
Amongst other things, it has sweet patterns, recipes, beautiful photographs and quotations. This quote really spoke to me:

In the midst of complexity, handicrafts provide simplicity.

In the midst of movement and noise, they make space for silence and solitude

~ Susan Lydon

Last night, after a working~day chock full of challenges, I decided I wanted to make something soothing and easy. I picked up one of my hooks and I started crocheting a cotton washcloth ~ what could be simpler?

The pattern's called the bark sedge stitch washcloth ( and it's from the LionBrand website so, even though it's free, you have to be registered to access it.) The Sugar'n Cream cotton's colourway is called Summer Splash.
...I'm loving how the variegations in the colour are working with the sedge stitch.

Happy weekend everyone.

Quiet

Things have been quiet around here.
I'm back at work,
the weather has continued to be hot
and I have been very tired...
the fall~soundly~asleep~on~the~sofa~at~nine~pm~in~the~middle~of
~crocheting sort of tired.
So I have been going really slowly at home
(which, actually, has been kind of nice.)
I've been reading, and thoroughly enjoying, Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.
I've also been doing a little bit of baking, on the odd occasion when the weather's been cool enough.
Here is a photo of some oat gems I made from the ever~reliable Country Women's Association Cook Book:



I added a quarter of a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the recipe.
They are simple but delicious.
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find the recipe on~line to share here on inkberryblue, but I did find a link to some other, tasty~looking CWA biscuits, which you can find here.

Vintage Crochet

I have a gorgeous neighbour who, despite being 88 years old, has an enormous zest for life.
This time last Summer she was in an ashram in India.
She sometimes tells a less recent story of finding herself alone in the jungles of Papua New Guinea.
She adores the theatre
and we often go to outdoor concerts together.
Not only is my friend an adventuress, she is also a very good plain cook and often puts together a picnic tea to take to the performances.
Imagine my delight when I discovered this beautiful example of thread crochet in the picnic basket she had packed.
It was crocheted by her mother.
My dear friend kindly allowed me to photograph some of her mother's work so that I could share it here.
I've included some miniature roses in the shots to give an idea of scale ~ it is so delicate and fine.
Enjoy!

Quirkyalone

I'd like to wish you a happy Valentine's Day
and show you a memory wire bracelet I just made for a swap buddy in Alaska ~
it's going to be a belated Valentine's present:

Secondly,
because I'm an alternative kind of a gal,
I'd also like to wish you a happy International Quirkyalone Day.
For those of you who are wondering,
quirkyalone is a term used to describe people, like me, who are both uncompromising romantics and deeply single. It's also the title of a fabulous book that I read a few years ago ~ and the name of an online community that I sometimes visit.

Lastly, I'd like to share with you a picture of daisies, the official flower of the quirkyalone movement:

(Whicheverway, I'm wishing you a wonderful Thursday.)

Recapturing Creativity

When I was younger, I used to draw all the time.
I drew joyfully, creatively, effortlessly, freely...
but
somewhere along the way
I lost that easy pleasure.
Art school knocked some of the joy out of me. Not that I regret going ~ the experience provided me with some invaluable lessons but it developed my inner critic in a big way.
And, these days, I always seem to be too busy. I'm expected to be very serious at work. Sadly, I can't imagine anyone approving of me doodling through meetings.

Even so, I manage to nurture my artistic side a little. I still draw sometimes. I occasionally get to go to drawing courses. I went to some fabulous lessons with an artist, educator and creativity advocate called Dawn Meader. Dawn now lives and works in Santa Cruz but I still draw inspiration from her ~ I receive an ezine she produces every month and really enjoy reading the creativity exercises and looking at the beautiful reproductions of her work.

Here are some of the pastels I completed in her classes:

These drawings are enormous by the way ~ they cover my double bed. (Dawn had us draw on huge pieces of paper so that we sketched with big, loose gestures.)

I also keep a little sketch book in my handbag. My idea for the sketch book is that I draw in it for five minutes every day, sketching whatever's in front of me, disengaging my inner critic, accepting whatever appears (a bit like writing morning pages if you're following The Artists' Way.)

I've also found a gorgeous blog called Creative Every Day. It's written by an artist called Leah Piken Kolidas. Leah writes perceptively about the creative process and posts some really interesting links to articles and images. She also draws beautifully, creating her artwork with the ease and joy that I would love to recapture.

Learning To Knit

As I've already mentioned, I'm knitting CosmicPluto's Cavern Cardi:

(I've made the stitch markers too.)



This is my first knitted garment and my blog friend Christina, from Matroschka, has asked me how I'm learning to knit.
The short answer is: with difficulty!
The long answer is kind of convoluted and I hope it makes sense.
Here goes.
I'm finding that learning to knit is a really different process to learning to crochet, primarily because I'm not working with one live stitch ~ I'm working with dozens...and the more live stitches I have the more mistakes I can make. Therefore, I'm having to plan what I'm doing way more than I've done when crocheting.

I'm planning and problem solving by:

• referring to the videos at Knitting Help (which are helpfully explicit, especially the ones that detail how to safely rip back work),
  
  
• reading through my copy of Debbie Stoller's Stitch n Bitch (which is comprehensive),
  
  
• approaching each new technique (raglan increases for example) with caution by practising on a swatch before I try using them on the actual garment,
  
  
• looking through threads like the Anthropologie~inspired Capelet tutorial over at Craftster, because it helps to explain how a top~down raglan cardigan is constructed
  
  
• and going to a knitting group. Even though I've only attended one meeting so far, the fabulous knitters who go too have already provided inspiration and encouragement.

Learning to knit is an involved process but a rewarding one ~ and in that way it is just like learning to crochet.