Last Instalment of VP Summer Sock Club

Today I recieved the last instalment of the VP Summer sock club, I was very very pleased with it, the best ever, love everything about it the scrummy yarn, really neat pattern with so many things going on in it. I am going to enjoy knitting these beauties! It is very strange that these are knit in linen stitch as I have been looking all week on Ravelry for patterns in this stitch!

I love the colour, I must admit I am not into brights so this is right up my alley or as my grand children say (Your Cup Of Tea!) I am forgetting what else was in the parcel, 2 lovely wooden buttons to go on the mitts and a chocolate toastie havent had one of these for years but will soon remedy that in a minute!.

Today I also go another parcel from VP some lovely sock yarn in a stunning green that is destined to become socks for SIL and G/child who loves green. Still have to find another colour for the other G Child who I think used to love yellow but now he is nearly 21 that may have changed! Morag also replaced one of my tips that had snapped great customer service there

I have made a couple of things this last week or so some socks and mitts in more lovely VP yarn but have gifted them so no pics. Also made a lovely cabled hat but for who not sure, I really like cables at the moment.

The weather has been great this last few days so hot seems like we are getting a bit of summer after all, better late than never.

I do hope you have a great Easter with lots of happy times with family and friends.

Blessings

Janet

House Guest !!!

This week I have had a lovely house guest. Flicka is a lovely canary belonging to Georgia, only a baby really. They have been on holiday for a week so I had a break too. I must admit I will miss this little bird as he has been company for me.

Surprisingly considering the free time I had this week I dont seem to have achieved very much on the knitting front. Managed to start several projects but not just right. I did finish a few more Swirl Hats one of my favourite patterns for babies.

I also ordered a beautiful pink sock yarn from Vintage Purls, and just looking at some of my other skeins they are all brights which is not usually my cup of tea much preferring autumn tones. These are not earmarked for me though.

I also finished some Magic Slippers you can find the pattern here I love this little pattern a bit fiddly but quick to make in your leftover sock yarn.

Caught up with my friend Ruth yesterday for lunch it was good to see her and hear all the news of her trip to the UK at Christmas time. The weather was lovely we sat outside in the sun and I made some bread for lunch.

It is getting noticeable cooler these morning though and find I want to stay under the covers for a bit longer!
Last Friday was Joels 8th birthday and we all went out for lunch to 623 On he Rocks, it was a lovely day with both grandparents and great Grannie who is her 96th year, she is amazing!

Well the kids will be picking me up soon for another sleepover and to return dear little Flicka or Birdie as I call him with a list of things he likes to eat! I figure he has been quite spoilt here!
Have a lovely week all

Janet.

Phew! Quickest Socks Ever

On Wednesday afternoon I received a lovely skein of sock yarn from Vintage Purls thought this would be a good colour for Patrick for his birthday, I failed to realize his birthday was on the 12Th March. Started that evening and finished them last night.!! 4 days . He has size 12 feet so I had a marathon task...... finished with a few grams to spare!

I have been waiting for my 2Nd instalment of Morags sock club and as yet it hasn't arrived I am really disappointed as everybody else seems to have received theirs. Hope it hasn't gone missing.

There have been a few F.O. this last week, I made a really nice top Sassy metrical you can find the pattern here. I really loved knitting this all in one piece doing the sleves magic loop. I brought the wool off of Trademe while it was lovely wool and colours it wasn't very soft so I soaked it in conditioner and it was much better. I had to do a bit of math for this one which is not my forte but would like to make another.

I also finished a couple of cable baby hats with socks to match. Love these together, the colour is more teal than pic.

Last but not least is another http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/puerperium-cardiganI love this little card it is so easy to knit the pattern is great and it is free although there is The Beyond Puerperium which I think would be great to purchase. I think it would get much use.

Oh I nearly forgot I ordered some wool from Skeinz online store and brought a variety of different wool to try, they all look very nice, watch this space for more F. O. in this yarn!!! Bonus is you get free shipping for orders over $50!!

Well must be time for a cuppa and more knitting and waiting for that elusive parcel!

Janet

These Smell Amazing!!

Today I received the soaps from my daughter Julie that she promised. These she says are seconds but to me they are all perfect and smell fantastic. They are all made from scratch using the best ingredients. Love the strawberry cheesecake, the peppermint/choc and the one that smells like candyfloss, cant remember what the others are so you will just have to go wander over to her website soap sensations and her very popular blog The Happy Housewife to see what I mean. You will not be disappointed

Julie you are so talented and I am so proud of what you have done, you have a real eye for detail and come up with brilliant ideas for your soap, especially love your snow freeze . A bonus is my house smells lovely,. Thank you heaps.

Day Of Remembering Feb 22nd 2011

Today is a very sad day for the people of Christchurch, one of New Zealand's largest and I think most beautiful cities. One year on since that terrible day our thoughts go out to the people of Christchurch and around the world who lost loved ones. Also the lives that have been changed by horrific injuries, homes and businesses lost. Buildings can be rebuilt but peoples shattered lives and minds will take longer to heal. I speak as one who knows the impact on my family, whose lives have been turned upside down not because of injury but being displaced from their home and schools but who are making new lives away from the eastern suburbs where they once lived. Their home can be rebuilt but as it is on the edge of the red zone i don't think they will ever go back there to live. A grandchild that is too scared to go to bed at night still and the terror in her face with every loud noise. But I am so thankful that they are okay and proud of them still battling all the problems  they face every day.
Christchurch we haven't forgotton you.

More Yummy Yarn

Home again for the weekend, it has been a busy week at Lind's with two wheelchair clinics for Josh and other appointments, his pressure sore is still nasty but drying out thank goodness.

Managed to finish a few knitting projects. Puerperium Cardigan is a fabulous free pattern from Kelly for a newborn babe. It is knit in D. K so knits up really fast no seaming Yay! I had some buttons in my stash that worked out nice. I knitted this in an acrylic yarn Panda Soft which is lovely to knit with.I am loving the colours in this.

I also finished 2 Baby Cable hats in Shepherd merino 4 ply I really love this cute pattern, it does take longer to knit but I think it will fit babies for longer because of the stretch. It is another free pattern on Ravelry.

I indulged myself this week with some more of Morag of Vintage Purls yummy yarn. This is such a popular hand dyed wool that on Monday afternoons we all crowd around the website pushing the refresh button to be one of the lucky one to buy one of these lovely skeins.

I was quick enough to get 2 of the red sock and one Max in D. K Duel In The Sun lovely browns greens and teal. The red is true fire engine red and Josh chose one skein for him for socks. Think the Max will look nice in a mans hat.

Well the sun has finally appeared and might just dash to the shops before the rain starts again.

Have a fab weekend all

Janet

So Spoilt

Well am back home again for the weekend after being at Lind's. I have been going there to help out since Josh's broken knee and stint in hospital, coming home for the weekends. He has had a rough road, but hopefully on the mend now.

This week I have received two parcels the first being the 1st instalment of the Vintage Purls Sock Club. I have previously been in the Winter one but never the Summer, something nice to look forward too for 3 months. This months was not a sock pattern but a lovely summery shawl pattern in a very bright sunshiny colour, not something I can wear myself but I am sure to find a use for it!! Also in the parcel was a badge and some stickies notes and some lovely yummy fudge. Notice in the pic that is MISSING! Thanks Morag

Also I received a belated Christmas parcel that went all the way to Christchurch from Julie Jason and Beka, it was full of lots and lots of pressies too many to name but you can see some on the pic, all lovely especially the soaps which aren't on the pic but you can find them on Julies website Soap Sensations she makes the bestest soaps ever and I love getting all her latest ones to try. Thanks Julie.

Its a long weekend again, on Monday it is Waitangi Day a sortof NZ s national day which marks the signing of the treat of Wataing in 1840.

Once again wherever you are ........ friends and family do have a great weekend.

Janet

Fruits Of My Labours

This weekend I have been busy making jam. We had been asked to pick plums of someone who had gone on holiday, they didn't want them to go to waste! I made about 16 jars, the first batch I made was quite tart using Lind's Edmond's book, the recipe was different to the one in my older book and my recipe turned out much better.

I also sacrificed some of my precious raspberries I had picked at Christmas to make a small amount of jam. I used this recipe here it was a bit too sweet next time wont add quite as much sugar.

I have also made some baby hats which turned out quite cute and very small, I am playing around with needles to get the gauge I like.

Last night cast on for some really lovely slippers they look like loafers and quite trendy. I was given lots of very thick wool a while ago and was wondering what to make with it. The first one came out too big the second I did on 5.5mm s and was just casting off and the acrylic needle snapped ARGH!! might try them on size 5s today they will be sure to fit someone the

Slippers pattern is free on Ravelry if you are a member.

It is quite overcast here today and we have had some strong winds,hoping for some fine weather for tomorrows Nelsons Anniversary Day.

I have been really enjoying reading books on my tablet. You can download books from your library, there are not many titles yet and quite a few you have to put on hold but I have been able to find a knitting book Yay!!! also lots of free books on the public domain. I quite like the idea of saving the trees and not having to pack books when I go away!

Well dear friends and family do have a lovely weekend wherever you are in this wonderful world

Janet

Bullion Roses and French Knots

Thought I would try my hand at this to embroider on a little baby vest, very clear instructions.

New Year Madness

Welcome to 2012 everyone! It was a quiet night for me but not for the neighbours over the road ........ boy did they party.
I started this Sock Yarn Blanket yesterday, its really addictive and I am wondering how long it will take me as the little squares are barely 2 inches. I like this idea as you don't join the squares but pick up stitches and join in, very ingenious. Only problem is I thought I had heaps of scraps of sock yarn but realize these are not going to go far!!! so if anybody out there has any to donate I would be very grateful!!!
I find I have only added about a dozen or so projects onto Ravelry in 2011 but have made lots of pairs of socks that didn't get put in, babies and adults. I am hoping to have a market this year in Nelson so am busy stockpiling socks.
Hope you all have a great day.

Janet

Out With The old

Well this has been quite a challenging year for my family. Earthquakes in Christchurch for Rachel, Josh's surgery with 3 months spent  away in Auckland. Floods in Nelson.
I have had so many blessings though to be thankful for. I was gifted a new computer this week from the lovely Kevin and Cathy ( thank you so much you guys, it is great) which will mean I can now update my blog more regularly. I missed two natural disasters while I was  away in Christchurch when the floods happened and had to return to Nelson unexpectedly and missed the latest swarm of earthquakes in Christchurch. I was affected though as when I returned home my power had been off since the rain and both freezers were full of rotting food,  the smell was something else,  the cupboards were very bare for Christmas!!!
I spent Christmas with Linds and family and we had the usual brunch which we find frees us up to relax for the rest of the day. The weather was great but once again the rain returned to soak everything again. I feel sorry for all the holiday makers that descend upon Nelson.
Boxing day was spent picking raspberries and enjoying fruit icecreams out at Berry Fields. This is something I really enjoy doing so I can freeze them for the coming year, plus its what summer in Nelson is all about!
I treated myself to a V9 Tablet for Christmas, it is great only 7 ins but finding it really useful now as I can read my patterns on it.
I havent been doing much knitting of late but will do a post later of those I have done last year.
Well to all far and near have a wonderful New Year, may 2012 be healthy and happy for you all .
God Bless

Janet

Finally

Well Finally I am blogging again. Have been home nearly 2 1/2 months, what a long time away.
In saying that I am at the moment visiting Rachel in Christchurch for Christmas. They are still displaced and living in Templeton since the February Quake and no nearer to finding out about their house in Avondale. Everything is shocking to see in real life, the streets where they lived just down fro the river are a mess. The end of her road is Red Zoned, we walked around Hulverstone Drive while P did the lawns, what a sad sad place, looks like a ghost town. Haven't felt any aftershocks thank goodness but as we are only a few metres from the railway tracks trains going all day and night its very noisy.
Havent really done anything for Christmas it will be money for most I think.
I am sort of pleased to not be in Nelson at the moment with the terrible flooding they are having at present, I got Dan to check my place and it is ok. Granny is still in Rocks fall and it will take more than landslides to move her!!!! Its a shame with Christmas coming as Nelson is a popular holiday spot.
On the knitting front have made quite a few pairs of socks, mostly babies I will post pics when I return home as finally I am getting a computer Yay!!! and should be back to regular posting.
Well we are off for a walk soon hoping the rain holds off it has been quite cool here thank goodness I brought my merinos!!
Well to all of you far and near may I wish you a very blessed and peaceful Christmas and Happy New Year
Janet