tiny happy

a plant called erica

There's not much flowering in the garden these days, but there is this shrub - I'm not sure what it is, maybe a kind of manuka, or Erica?

I spent a rainy afternoon recently embroidery small sprigs of this mystery plant onto linen, which was quite a pleasing activity. I usually like to listen to the radio or podcasts while I stitch, but recently I've discovered the lazy but fun habit of watching clips of various things on YouTube such as knitting podcasts and food shows. I came across this recipe for lemon pavlova while I was working on this embroidery, and now I can't stop thinking about it - I might have to give it a try this weekend! I really can't think of a more delicious pudding than lemony meringue.

+ + + + + + + + + + + 

Here's a favourite song by the UK band Blur: Good Song. Enjoy the rest of your week!

+ + + + + + + + + + +

the moon lay down

Hello friends, how are you?

I'm typing from the kitchen table with coffee nearby and winter sun momentarily beaming in, which is rather blissful. I haven't had much to write about lately, mostly because there's been limited light to take photos, school holidays, stormy weather and flu in the house. But anyway, onto better topics!  

All of the above create excellent conditions for knitting, so I've been slowly working on a couple of projects which I hope to finish soon.

Constança loaned me a stack of her favourite craft books (we did a 'craft book stack swap' - highly recommended!) and included was her copy of A Year Between Friends, by Maria Alexandra Vettese and Stephanie Congdon Barnes.

It's a really beautiful book, with letters between the two bloggers that reflect on family life and friendship, love and loss. It also includes ideas for craft projects (I love the look of those sun-printed fabrics) and recipes through the seasons.

If you click on this link you can see some of the beautiful handmade projects they offer up instructions for, including hand-printed garments and lip balm coloured with beetroot. 

+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +

It's also been perfect TV-watching weather... Tom and I have been making our way through The Handmaid's Tale (which I have many thoughts about) and the 2011 BBC adaptation of Great Expectations, which we're watching with the kids and having some good chats about Dickensian England. 

+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +

And here is my favourite song this week: The Moon Lay Down. I couldn't find the lyrics online anywhere, but I think it's a beautiful three minutes of music.

I hope this finds you well!

 

the moon lay down

Hello friends, how are you?

I'm typing from the kitchen table with coffee nearby and winter sun momentarily beaming in, which is rather blissful. I haven't had much to write about lately, mostly because there's been limited light to take photos, school holidays, stormy weather and flu in the house. But anyway, onto better topics!  

All of the above create excellent conditions for knitting, so I've been slowly working on a couple of projects which I hope to finish soon.

Constança loaned me a stack of her favourite craft books (we did a 'craft book stack swap' - highly recommended!) and included was her copy of A Year Between Friends, by Maria Alexandra Vettese and Stephanie Congdon Barnes.

It's a really beautiful book, with letters between the two bloggers that reflect on family life and friendship, love and loss. It also includes ideas for craft projects (I love the look of those sun-printed fabrics) and recipes through the seasons.

If you click on this link you can see some of the beautiful handmade projects they offer up instructions for, including hand-printed garments and lip balm coloured with beetroot. 

+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +

It's also been perfect TV-watching weather... Tom and I have been making our way through The Handmaid's Tale (which I have many thoughts about) and the 2011 BBC adaptation of Great Expectations, which we're watching with the kids and having some good chats about Dickensian England. 

+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +

And here is my favourite song this week: The Moon Lay Down. I couldn't find the lyrics online anywhere, but I think it's a beautiful three minutes of music.

I hope this finds you well!

 

baby alpaca

I finished knitting another small garment recently, this time for the new baby boy of some old friends. For this I used soft alpaca yarn in an oatmeal shade, and wooden buttons. I began with this pattern, but made some changes, namely, converting the whole cardigan into garter stitch. (More details here on my Ravelry page.)

To wrap up with the cardigan, I also sewed a pair of slippers in striped linen and a little hanging bird with dried lavender inside, just because.

There are so many things on my knit-wish-list at the moment, it's hard to know what to do next! I'd like to knit some hats for family members, a (me-size) cardigan and a jumper. What are you working on these days?

+ + + + + + + + + +

I've been enjoying listening to this song from the album All Things Must Pass by George Harrison (although the whole album is great). It's from 1970 but (I think) still pretty fresh. 

For various reasons, I was so happy to see the past week come to an end! When I woke up this morning I found these tiny little primula had flowered in the garden. Spring will be here soon. Wishing you a happy weekend.

+ + + + + + + + + +

silk and wool

Thank you for your thoughtful messages after my last post. I so appreciate them!

It feels as though the days are slowly, slightly, getting longer and lighter. It's still dark when we get home from work but it helps to know that technically spring is a bit closer.

I don't have much to show this week, partly due to the aforementioned darkness. But here are two textile pieces that I am enjoying this week. The first is a grey wool top I bought a while ago to wear to the office, but it felt a bit boring, even by my standards...!

I added a bit of wool embroidery - kind of like a permanent brooch I suppose - which brings a bit of spring to a grey thing.

The other is an amazing silk scarf that Helen sent to me a number of years ago. It's quite big and features an intricate print of Australian native plants (possibly pincushion hakea and waxflowers? Just a guess..)

I've always wanted to get this framed for the wall, so I might see if I arrange that this week.

And speaking of flowers, this is a beautiful little illustration/animation that I found via a friend on Facebook. Directed by Azuma Makoto, it's designed for children to demonstrate the life cycle of flowers, and this introduction seemed apt:

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Many different flowers are growing beautifully and strongly in this world. Taking their roots in the earth, sprouting, blooming, pollinated by birds and insects, living on in spite of rain, wind and storms. They pass on the baton of life, rebirth and decay. Everything in a continuous, endless cycle.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + +