I FOUND IT!

My mojo that is!

Smaller projects, quick knits, were the best thing to ramp up the mojo. And funnily enough that was the suggestions from most of you very lovely people out there.

So here is what I have done in the past week.

One umbilical cord beanie, for newly preggers friend. The Knittery 4 ply, in coral reef colour way. Left overs from the Big Bad Baby Blanket


One knitted request. A beanie for sista dreadlock. This is the best I could do, as far as a photo goes. Essentially it is a sock for someone with lots of hair or dreads. Made from Cleckheaton Gusto, it is based on a photo my Sista sent through. I need to think of a name for it, maybe Sista Dread???


And finally, Calorimetry from Knitty. This is the third one I have made and found I had to adjust the pattern, it was just too big (or maybe I have an extra small head and wee little brain? NOT LIKELY!!!!). If you want a copy of my notes for adjusting size, feel free to email. This one is made out of the Bamboozle, bamboo yarn from Lincraft.

And so now I find myself ready to get stuck into the Voyager stole. But not before I dye some sock yarn.
MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Knitting Mojo, where for art thou?

I have no knitting mojo. I am mojo-less.

I just cant seem to get into knitting again after my trip. I have, however after a fair whack of pondering, narrowed my lack of mojo down to this.


The Voyager stole.

It is "the cause". Not because it is difficult, but because it is going to take time.

Not steeked time (Bells you are a patient/determined/amazing woman), so I should'nt complain. But time none the less. So I have decided to start work on an easy, quick project that I can knit concurrently with the Voyager stole. My thinking behind this is to try and work up my knitting mojo into a bit of a crescendo and then jump, boots and all, back into the Voyager stole.

What do you think? Will it work?? Time will tell I guess!

So here is a question for you, gentle readers.
What do you do, when you are feeling out of knitting sorts, to get yourself back in the mood??

Time flies when you are having fun.....

Or so they say.

So, I got back from my mini holiday last Sunday. And it has taken this long to get back to normal (whatever the heck my normal is). I think I needed to process all that happened while spending a week with my parents, who I love dearly, but could NEVER live with. Well I probably could, but would prefer my independence.

So, I arrived back to Sydney to find the ever loving Princess Meena had, at some point during my absence, thrown up in my bed. Yes, you read it correctly, she threw up IN my bed.

Would I do that?

MY BED PEOPLE! The little minx had crawled under the sheet, 2 blankets and doona (it has been a cold winter here in Sydney!) , made herself at home AND THEN decided to cough up a furball.

So Sunday night, when I wanted to crawl into bed, under the sheets, 2 blankets and a doona, I was DELIGHTED to find my little surprise. For a brief moment I actually seriously considered just crawling in and pretending IT wasn't there. But even though it was dried (I could peel it off the sheets people!) the smell would have been too much for me.

So I remade the bed (with different sheets, same 2 blankets and doona) and crawled in, happy (finally) to be in my own bed. And with ABSOLUTELY no shame, Princess Meena jumped on my bed curled up next to me and went to sleep.

I don't have alot of craft news for you. I didn't do nearly as much knitting as I had hoped while on holidays. My Mum is a smoker and she smokes in her house (because it is her house). I didn't realise quite how much of an obsessive knitter I had become (OK I lie, I KNOW I am obsessed!) until I refused to pull out any of the projects I brought with me because I didn't want the to smell of smoke.

The good news is that I am meeting up with some good craftin' buddies tomorrow, so I should get my mojo back and plough on into the many projects that are on my hit list.

Sigh, so many projects so little time!

PS. Princess Meena and I have been playing "keep the kitty out of my bed" since Sunday. Shazmina 5, Princess Meena 0.

And so it is done!

The best thing about being on the Sunshine coast is the weather. It is PERFECT blocking weather!!! LOL! You knew this holiday had to be all about craft!!

So I have blocked the Clapotis, it is now massive! Love it!

I have blocked the Big Bad Baby Blanket. It is currently winging it's way to it's new owner. I hope he likes it!

And I am just about to block my Forest Canopy Shawl. You know the one. The one I made for me, out of the Cherry Tree Hill silk merino in the Peacock colourway. Love it! Cant wait to start using it! Photos soon.

How was your week?

Coming Home

View out front of my parents home

What is it about a homecoming that makes you become introspective? Makes you wonder what life would have been like had you stayed? Would you be happy not knowing that there was more to life out there in the big wide world?


I have been pondering that very fact the last couple of days.


I have also come to accept that I am a country girl. I should explain. I have always described myself as a country girl, but have always though it was a strange term to use as I come from the Sunshine Coast. More precisely Nambour. I mean really, I am a coastie/surfie girl, arent I?


It hit me yesterday that Nambour is a country town. I am not sure if I have been trying to make it something more than it is, but lets face it, it is a country town. With a Big Pineapple.

I, like most of the kids around here have worked at the Big Pineapple (during Uni holidays). I also had my Year 12 Formal there. Yes friends my formal was at the Big Pineapple. Still makes me giggle.


Ahhhh, memories!

But memories are just that. I drove to Maroochydore on Saturday, through what used to be canefields. But they are gone now. Just like the sugar mill, which used to rain down long delicate pieces of ash all over Nambour during milling season. All gone. And I am sad about that. The tall, green cane was beautiful. Even during dry times Nambour looked green. Now it just looks dry and tired.

Today I am off to the Eumundi markets. I remember when they were only on Saturday and full of hippies with the coolest arts & craft for sale. Those were the days. The markets are still good. There are still hippies. But it is just that little bit more commercial now. I will post some pictures tonight of the Markets and the treasures I find.

Until then, I will keep reminiscing about the way it used to be.

ps G, I am starting to sound like an old timer!

pps You were right Rose Red, Mrs bendi made Rhubarb and Apple Fluffy lst night. It was delicious! Good tucker for political prisoners!

It's been 5 days

since my incarceration at Camp Bendi. The orange jump suit is starting to chaffe. Not sure when I will get to wash it. Will washing make it softer?

The wardens are getting suspicious that I am trying to make an escape so they have begun to watch me closely. This may be the only message I can get out to those of you on the outside.

Tell Princess Meena I love her, and I will make contact as soon as I can.

Got to go , the warden is coming!

Shazmina

Catching up

So much to tell, so little time.

This Friday I am off on holidays for a week to Casa de Bendi, on the Sunshine Coast. I am looking forward to Mr and Mrs Bendi Snr, looking after me while I relax, eat, drink and most importantly, knit! I promise to post and tell you about my adventures back in my home town!

So, for the moment, lets recap on a couple of my previous posts.

How are these Apples
Well I got some great suggestions for knitting books, thanks to you gorgeous crafty chicas. It is interesting to note, that most of the books suggested were already on my list. So it just goes to show that way cool & trendy knitting types do think alike! YOU ROCK!
Suggestions were:

• Barbara G Walker: any and all of the Treasury of knitting Patterns books. Sigh, they are all are on my wish list!
• Maggie Righetti: Knitting in Plain English. I have her Crochet book and it is awesome!
• Elizabeth Zimmerman: Kintting Without Tears
• Victorian Lace Today
• Lisa Kartus: Knit Fix. I like the idea of a book that tells you how to fix mistakes!
• Setsuko Torii: Hand-Knit Works (Japanese) mmmmm dont know if I am brave enough for this one yet!
• Nancie M Wiseman: The Knitters Book of Finishing Techniques

There are more titles in the comments of that post. Thanks Amy, Five Ferns Fiberholic, Rose Red, Nora, Jejune, Bells for your suggestions. I now have a very healthy Knitting book shopping list. My Credit Card salutes you!

Weekend To Do List
So what did I complete last weekend?

Well I knew the To Do List was ambitious, all I actually completed were the Clapotis repeats. BUT, I did wind the Colinette Jitterbug into a yarn cake in preparation for the casting on of teh Nereid Fingerless gloves. That counts doesnt it? Feast your eyes on this little beauty. mmmmmmmmm Colinette. Jitterbug. Salty Dog. mmmmmmmmmm