a visit from family

We are graced with the presence of my sister and her family from New Plymouth this weekend ( for my sister's birthday, today!), which means lots of feasting, playing with cousins and for me gooing and gahing over my young 9 month nephew ( SOO CUTE!!)  I've also been madly spinning and knitting to complete a cowl for my sisters birthday. The fibre was a silk hankie and some merino dyed by spinning a yarn and bought  off gillybean.
The weather has been frosty and sunny reaching quite reasonable temperatures during the day which means lots of outdoor play ( even pretend swimming lessons in the nud but no photos of that!). The highlight of the week: family and a Matariki celebration with playgroup.

art yarn

A few weeks ago I bought Lexi Boeger's book, Intertwined , about spinning unique yarns using a variety of new techniques. So I am Completely Inspired!!!! Although maybe I will continue to increase my more traditional spinning skills, I am also keen to play around with fibre too. So I attempted my first art yarn, using some ratty old roving that I dyed last week, some bits of sari fibre left over from my Blendy box sampler , I cut up a sari skirt that never fit me and weren't really my colours and spun a thick and thin single using a thread for stability through the whole skein. Here is the result:

And last night we had this sunset:

I can see that sunset inspiring some fibre adventure too sometime.

fibre and fun filled days

hand painted merino from a giveaway by  spinning a yarn  last year, finally spun and plied this morning. 

Natty and gnarly, thick and thin yarn, from that in raw fleece from the other day. Anyone teach me about handcarding?

A birthday party for a toy dog named Sally, last year we celebrated her fourth birthday, this year shes 16!

We all love reading!

 As well: dyed some tick and thin spun white yarn, pink, blue and green, and some plain white fleece bright pink and red with a bit of purple, but they are still drying.

Have a nice day.

a catch up

Finished: Some mitts for me! Pattern is Reading Mitts on Ravelry.

Maaike's fourth birthday started bright and early.

results of a painting morning from us four that are home during daylight hours.

They really enjoyed the painting, though at times the process overwhelmed me!  Note to self:Next time have it all set up before toddler starts washing hands in water jar and 4 year old paints the table! Also art smocks would be good!

 I am tired but inspired this week after hooking up with some other home schoolers and talking about what they do. Actually just knowing there are others like us, even if we all do things our own way is good. There are even other homeschoolers down the street! ( Believe me our road is so rural, its surprises me sometimes there is anyone down the street, especially on foggy mornings!)

So inspired I am and have to knuckle down and provide more for the children, and do it alongside I think. Not lessons as such but definately experiences with variety as the spice of life?

My W.I.P s are some homespun socks for Anoushka ( two at a a time on circs, how hard can it be?), spinning some raw fleece in the grease and trying to learn to handcard from  googled sites; videos aren't any good for slow dial up like this!

The blanket for girls is taking some time out and I am trying to find time for sewing overpants , new cushion covers for  lounge, an obi belt for me and more pants for the young lad. 

what inspires you and what are you making?

knitting updates

A blanket for the girls bed. pattern from living crafts magazine.

A little bit of knittinghas been done in the days following the easter fair, and lots during! Trade could have been better, but it was great to get this pattern finished! The following pics are of my "Victoria vest" by the Rare yarns company, made with wool  I found on trade me for fifteen dollars for one kilo, and spun myself as singles.  I didn't wash the yarn to set the twist but did block the vest after finishing and am super happy with how the yarn responded, fluffing up and stretching out nicely.

Also some photos of where we are at the moment. Beautiful Mapua!

Enjoy the rest of the week or autumn holidays! I'm off to find some needles to complete some more knitting projects!

more beautiful wool pics

my cowl, and earrings my husband bought for our anniversary. sorry no pic of my face, i haven't presented myself yet! But I have milked a goat, he he!