tiny happy

an autumn of painting + knitting + books

I'd say the heading on this post pretty much sums it up! Winter has tentatively arrived here in Wellington, but here are some photos from the end of autumn. 

I found a trio of books from the 1970s and 80s by the NZ painter and journalist Shona McFarlane in a second-hand shop. They kept my spirits up while I was isolating in my room with Covid (all recovered now, and feeling very fortunate!) McFarlane died in 2001, after a long career as an artist, writer and also TV panellist and arts administrator.

Her books are very witty and quirky, with stories about travels with her politician husband and the funny things people said and did. She loved to paint vegetables but also did interesting portraits, landscapes, stained glass and etchings. In one of the books, next to a portrait of brown onions she wrote: "still life is to feel the shape, weight and silence of things. To reflect on the perfect nature of humble ordinary things and portray them in a state of unfussed clarity. An onion is a beautiful fruit of the earth." 

Her writing and everyday paintings reminded me to get my nature journal out and record a few things that were popping up in the garden over that time. I'm still enjoying my painting but finding that I definitely need to practice more! 

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I wanted to show you a picture of my favourite new plant - a variegated ficus I bought from my local florist Next Stop Earth in Newtown. I bought another for a workmate who was leaving us and couldn't resist getting another for me. She sits on a shelf in our bedroom and I admire those leaves every morning - they could be painted with watercolour!

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I've also been enjoying the odd bit of knitting, as always. I made a little set for a new baby from creamy alpaca yarn - the hat is the 'Baby Bear Bonnet' pattern by Pernille Larsen and the slippers are called 'Greemy Baby Booties' - there are links to both patterns here on my Ravelry page.

I also knitted something for me - a new hat for winter. The design is by Melody Hoffman and it's called the 'Brume Hat.' I used some beautiful Australian DK yarn that was a gift from my friend Lizzie, held together with a strand of mohair. The result is super soft and cosy and I'm almost wishing for cooler weather so I can wear it (not really... I'm not a big fan of proper winter...) Here are the Ravelry details.

And speaking of Lizzie, she sent me some yarn the other day - Cloverleaf Corriedale naturally dyed with onion skins, which is very local to her.. It's so golden and beautiful! And she also included a tin of beautiful hand balm. Might have to make another hat with the yarn, I reckon.

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Early winter is such a good time to stock up on books and other indoorsy things. I'm currently reading Hannah Gadsby's Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation which is making me feel and think all the things. Also recently finished Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie which was simply an amazing piece of writing.

I'd love to hear what you're working on, reading or listening to these days? I hope this finds you very well, dear reader!

With love,
M

kelowna + crochet

Kia ora, how are you? 

Thought I'd pop on to share some of my latest projects - I seem to be having longer and longer gaps between blog posts this year! Thank you so much if you still visit this space and read my thoughts.

Keira turned 17 a couple of months ago. I offered to knit her something and she requested a brown, loose-fitting sweater, and chose the Kelowna pattern by Good Night Day - there's a Ravelry link with more info about my project here, but you can also find the pattern on the designer's site. 

For Keira's version I used some brown alpaca yarn she picked out from our local craft store. It's an alpaca blend and very light and airy. I held two strands together throughout, so that the fabric wasn't too holey - and I think the result was just right. She is happy with the shape and fit so that's great! And even better, she wears it all the time. I think the Kelowna sweater pattern would be a great project for a new knitter - it knits up quickly and is very simple. It has a great boxy shape. I'd quite like to make one for myself in black - but have to find the right blend of yarns I think.

In other crafty news, we received some beautiful photos of a cousin's newborn baby wrapped up in a crochet blanket I made for him, and the parents said I could share them here. Check out those tiny and perfect toes! The blanket itself was just a giant granny square, and i used various DK weight yarns in blues, browns and peachy pinks. Most of the yarns were wool and some had possum blended in (baby's parents are keen trampers and conservationists, so it seemed right to use that yarn!) I also love how soft and lightweight it is for babies.

For a friend's birthday recently, I made her a little set using small pieces of hand-dyed linen leftover from other things. I sewed these together and constructed a 'petal pouch', which is a pattern from the first edition of Making Magazine and a lavender sachet which turned out quite large and possible too lavender-ish - I probably went a bit overboard with the dried flowers! It was a fun little set to make, though.

And my watercolour learning continues (albeit very slowly). I've been practicing watercolour skies - and trying to paint one every day. I thought they did look quite beautiful en masse though - a wall of watery sky.

I hope you are keeping healthy and safe and is well in your world?

Take care,

Melissa