Are you a Stole or Shawl?

So my next finish on a deadline project is a wedding present for a good friend. She already knows what I am planning so I can post about the project.

I am planning to knit the Voyager Stole from elann.com. I am using the 2ply silk merino from The Knittery in the Denim colourway. Gorgeous Daphne is dyeing it specially for me. I hope the pattern is fun to knit because I am also planning to knit myself one!

While I was trawling the net for a pattern it hit me. I believe you are either a shawl person or a stole person. I think I am more a stole girl than a shawl girl. Although I love shawls and I have made myself the Forest Canopy shwl, I do prefer the rectangle shape. But hey, I havent knitted one yet, so lets see how I feel at the end of this project!!

And then there are the mermaid gloves. I am having soooooooooo much trouble deciding on a yarn and colour for these. Maybe subconciously I am procrastinating so that the lovely Jejune will figure out the finger bit of the pattern, knit them and then tell me what to do!!! Ok, that does sound the likely culprit of the failure to choose a yarn situation!

And yes Sadie and Lance, I will finish skully!!

So many projects, so little time......... Dammit!

And then Life gets in the way...

Ahhhh life. Seems to get in the way of the knitting. Shouldnt it be vice versa?

This week has been busy at work. One of my colleagues has gone on holidays, because she didnt have alot on. Recruitment was quiet. Funny thing (or is it Murphy's Law?) when it is quiet and she is away, I become busy doing her (apparently) non existent work. 4 resignations later, quiet. Lucky I like recruitment. Seriously!

So as for knitting, I am quietly powering away at the Big Bad Baby Blanket. I have (finally) reached halfway so it is all down hill from here. Yay! I have decided after the 11 day Clapotis effort (I still cant believe I made it so quickly!) that I can focus on a project and knock it off quickly if I REALLY want to. So I am going to try and finish it by the end of August. Emphasis on try.

Have just ordered some more yarn to make a stole for a wedding present. Will post a picture of yarn and a link to the pattern I am going to make as soon as it arrives.

At the moment I have no photos, not of any new craft anyway. So here I have for you, gentle readers, a bunch of beautiful flowers and a promise to post some pics real soon.



Ciao. For now.

Is it a Bird?!?!

Is it a plane?

No it is SUPER SHAZMINA!

So who can say they spent their Thursday night:

1. Preventing a friend from having the worst first week in a new job. EVER!


2. Preventing a historic building from (potentially) burning to the ground.


3. Leaping a crisis in a single bound?

ME, THATS WHO! (I must remember only to use my powers for good. Damn!). MWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Now if only I could channel my superheroness towards knitting. That would be the ULTIMATE use of my super powers!

Action Figure sold seperately. Batteries not included!

I Present to You, The Clapotis!

Clapotis
Originally uploaded by shazminabendi

Isnt she Beeeeeooooootiful??

I am excited to see how she turns out after I block her, but she is lovely all the same.

Still trying to decide what project to work on next. Yes I know Sadie and Lance, I should finish Skully. I mean after all, I only have the sleeves to go and it is knit in chunky wool so will take no time at all.

But then there is Stella. I am more likely to wear Stella in the next few months (thats enough motivation isn't it?). But then there are the Mermaid Fingerless gloves from here.

More decisions!

Eat Your Crusts!

Have you had one of those days where you let yourself go? Where you dont "do" your hair, you just let it dry naturally. And then EVERYONE comments on it, and tells you how great you look (compliments are good!) much better than you normally do (beep, beep, beep, reversing of said compliment, you look great because normally you look like shite!).

Well I am having one of those days.

Luckily I already hate people (I do work in HR after all). Generally I just giggle on the inside. The absolute innocence of those comments makes for classic comedy. Evil Shazmina often wonders what would happen if she pointed out how rude those comments are. MWAHAHAHA!

*Please note: I really don't hate people. I just have an exceptionally low tolerance for idiots. Luckily for me I am surrounded by them!

Currently I am working on some secret baby shower stuff. So cant post about that until next week. Apart from that I am dreaming about projects. And Ravelry. Thanks Bells! I want it. I want it now! And I cant have it. Bugger! PooBumWee!

And I am trying to decide on a farewell present for a friend. My lunchtime knitting companion is leaving me. And I am sad. Trying to decide what to get someone who is moving to London (via a 3 month trip through Africa). I am thinking of something from here. Too many choices though, and then there are all the things I want. Damn you Jejune for tempting me so!

And then I cant decide on what "me" project to start on next. Should I finish Skully? Should I finish Stella? Decisions, decisions. What is a girl to do??

yes. This is me, and my new do! My hair has decided to go curly, all during the last 12 months

Kindergarten Speak!

Lately I have reverted to what I call, kindergarten speak. You know the language you used to giggle at when you were saying naughty things that your Mum and Dad got cross at. Like poo, bum and wee. My current favourite roadrage phrase is "you big fat poo head!" and another classic is "a*se clown, stoopid head"

I think this language is best used when in reply to particularly childish and stupid events. It makes them seem even more ridiculous. And lets face it, we should all embrace the childish and silly from time to time.

Anywho, here is my finished Clapotis. I promise to post pictures of the Clap(otis) in all it's loveliness very soon. I still need to block it, but was to eager to wear it today.

Just to recap. 3 balls of 8 ply yarn from the Knittery in the Earth colourway. I knitted as per the pattern found here, with the exception of adding 2 extra repeats in the straight rows. I had enough yarn left to have completed a 3rd repeat. Oh, and I just realised that this project took me 11 days to complete! That is some kind of record for the Queen of the UFO!

So now I am onto my next project. It is secret squirrel stuff (until next week) as it is for a baby shower I am attending on the weekend. And no, Sadie and Lance it is not the Big Bad Baby Blanket!

ps Please excuse my spelling mistakes they were roolly rooollllly bad!

Give Me the Sock Love Meena!!!

ok, Meena is the quintessential bored housewife. She is TOTALLY unimpressed by the magnificence of my first pair of knitted socks. I mean really, what is that about?

I admit, when I finished these socks I did a little dance. One that I now like to call "the sock dance". Again, Meena was unimpressed!

But as for me, I LOVE them. Nora, queen of all that is good and knitterly in the world, sent me the pattern after a great suggestion by Rose Red to knit your first pair of socks in 8ply. Genius(es)! They have been keeping my tootsies warm for the last week. These socks have officially become the best things I have ever knitted.

Now if only there was a sock pattern for bored, unimpressed cats.............

Half Way!

So, I am just over halfway through (completed 8 body repeats) this Clap(otis)! YAY for me!!!

I am persevering and powering through. Mainly because I want to wear it while it is still cold.

I saw Rose Red's Clap(otis) again on the weekend. It is still a worthy lust object. Claudia's Hand paints mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

And I got meet some FABULOUS knitting bloggers, which I will post more about later.

Just realise that the last 3 posts (including this) have been about the Clap(otis). AND I still haven't shown you a picture of the socks!!

And so I make this promise

• to take a better, up close picture, of the Big Bad Baby Blanket (I haven't forgotten Bells!)
• to post about my socks. I just ADORE them!
• AND to tell you all about my VERY FIRST SWAP. Don't get to excited, it is with my little crafty sister & wait until you see what she wants me to make her!!

Ciao for now!

mmmmmmmmmm, Clapotis!

THE YARN arrived on Tuesday, and I was in love. I am putting it out there. This is my favourite multicolour yarn! EVER!

I love everything about it. All the colours, the way they gradually morph into the next are stunning.

I love it sooooo much that I am OBSESSIVELY knitting my Clapotis! That actually may have more to do with the cold weather we are having in Sydney and my INTENSE desire to have this Clapotis finished and wrapped around my neck.

I can not describe how wonderful this colourway is. It is so beautiful that when I showed my friend, the Obsessive Compulsive Craftster, she wanted to make herself a Clapotis out of the same yarn.

Under the circumstances I would have VIOLENTLY objected. I mean really, who wants a friend to have the exact same scarf as yourself? But the dear OCC is moving to the UK in 6 weeks for a couple of years, so deep breath, I am ok with it! And she was so in love with the yarn that after seeing it at lunch, she went back to her office and ordered 4 balls for a Clapotis and matching beanie!

OCC has been my lunchtime knitting companion for the last 18 months. I am going to miss her when she is gone, so it is nice to know that we will both be wearing the Clapotis made from Daphne's delicious Earth colourway. As long as she only wears it in the UK, 'cos I have first dibs on wearing it in the Southern Hemisphere!

My name is Shazmina, and I am a Yarnaholic!

It has been 2 days since my last yarn purchase.

I feel like my skin is crawling. I have constant thoughts of yarn, purchasing more, potential projects, I just cant stop thinking about yarn.

It is a burning need. A flaming desire, if you will. It burns from deep within, and nothing can quench it. It occupies my thoughts at work, and stops me from sleeping at night.

And then there are my friends. All they talk about is yarn. Where to get it. Who supplies it. How quickly it can be posted. They feed my addiction, and I cant break away........

And I am afraid. Afraid that when I die, my beautiful yarn will be donated to an op shop and will not be appreciated. I want to bequeath it to truly deserving friends, people who will use it to support their own addiction. When will it end????

The answer is clear (here comes the bird!). I need to embrace this addiction. I need to celebrate being a Yarnaholic! I NEED to purchase more yarn, because as we all know, She who has the most yarn WINS!!!!!!

Now where did I put that credit card?????

ok, so this yarn above I bought 2 days ago. 8ply Merino from the Knittery in the Earth Colourway. I am going to make myself a Clapotis. After seeing Rose Red's and lusting after Brownpants versions, I just had to have a big warm cuddly one myself!

ps This post is not intended to make fun of any organisation that treats addiction, it is in fact poking fun at the author.

The Big Bad Baby Blanket Post

Ok, it had to happen. I have to show you all where I am up to with this project. I am so happy with the way it is coming along. I love everything about it. The pattern is great and especially the colour choice. I mean, really people, I am just such a brilliant, gorgeous creature, I just have to share!! Mwahahahahaha!

So now do you see why I am so chuffed? It's GORGEOUS!!! And secretly, I want to keep it for myself!!

Details:

4ply Merino from The Knittery in the Coral Reef colourway.

The pattern (for SNB Volume 1) calls for 2 strands of Koigu PPPM knit together. As my Aussie knitting sista's know it is almost impossible to get that yarn over here. Sigh! (I got to fondle some on the weekend, double sigh!) Which is why I decided on 4ply merino from The Knittery. And to tell you the truth, I am really glad I am using it. This BBB Blanket is going to be lush!!

Did you know that Daphne can custom dye for you? So if there is a particular colourway you are after, for a particular wool The Knittery carries, she can make it up for you. Ahhhh, sweet Daphne. I am just positive she is as gorgeous as the beautiful colours she dyes her yarns!

So there you have it. I am a self appointed master craftswoman. Now if only I could pat myself on the back properly. Damned arms just don't reach that far!!!

I.GET.IT!

I have turned a heel on my first sock! Yay me!!! And I finally get why there is an obsession about sock knitting. Maybe it is because I am knitting with 8ply yarn on 4mm needles. Maybe it is because socks are such functional items.

I don’t know what it is, but I am really getting into it.

Admittedly I haven’t finished the first sock. And I have wondered if I would be motivated to knit sock 2.

This begs the question. Is there a place in this world for a collection of single socks?

Red Wine Tuesday

Things I know.
1. Every day is a Red Wine day. A glass a day is good for the heart. And the soul!
2. Princess Meena is a cutey! But only when she wants to be fed..........
3. Knitting is addictive.
4. Who is the only Sydney crafty type not to go to the Craft show last week, BUT who did score some crafty goodness???
5. It's me!!!!

Thanks to the lovely Obsessive Compulsive Craftster (why she doesnt have a blog I dont know??) who bought me this.

Really cute Japanese fabric with cats on it. Love it! Makes my regret at not going shrink. Slightly. Ok, not really at all!

I am going to make matching headbands for me and Princess Meena...... if I can get her to wear hers it will be a miracle!

Rebel and Breakaway!

From my previous completer/finisher issues! ;)

So a quick update of the weekend.

I made this.

It is a Hobo Bag, pattern from the Stitch and Bitch Desk Calendar. (I lurve that calendar!!) I used 4 balls of the Cleckheaton Vintage Hues (shade 1270) knitting 2 strands together. It took approx an afternoon and evening to make. A great quick knit!


I also lined it so that nothing small would fall out.

I am gifting it to a friend who is going through alot of changes in her life at the moment. New job, new man, new home. Just think, if someone took everything in your life that was stable, comfortable and safe, and then gathered them up and threw them in the air and let them fall higgledy piggledy. Well, that is her life at the moment.

Dont get me wrong, when the universe has done with all this change, her life is going to be tremendous! It is just the implementation of all this change that sucks!!

So for the rest of the day I am back to my sock. But that, gentle readers, is for another post!! :) Have a FABULOUS week!

Shazmina

Stuff and Nonsense

As the locals know, it has been cold in Sydney. Not many of us have central heating so we are really feeling it, I know I am. But no, not Princess Meena. She takes pole position up against the small (too bloody small) column (oil) heater. In fact she likes to lean her head against it. I keep telling her that she is frying her wee small brain, but she doesnt care. She, in her little fur coat, is warm. While I, the one who feeds her and cleans up her poop, is FREEZING!

So who really is the dumbo in this house!!!

So this weekend, is all about me. I am planning to take time out and have Shazmina time. That means hanging out at home, crafting, watching dvd's, going for a walk, ignoring the phone, watching Dr Who, eating good food, and more crafting. Basically I am working on being centred. The last week I have felt slightly off kilter, so the weekend is all about getting back to my centre, to the things that matter to me, so that I can better cope with the weekday malarky.

So what am I working on this weekend?

A surprise for a friend. She is feeling the stress of life more keenly than I am, so I am making a little something to cheer her up. Pics soon.

My first sock, otherwise known as Shazmina's new obsession!!

Embroidery for a quilt.

The BBB blanket for Sadie and Lance.

Sewing - Amy Butler skirt & hemming 2 pair of pants.

So that will kepp me busy and on the straight and narrow!! I will post updates tomorrow!

Where is that Bloody Bird???

Seriously, I am looking but I cant see it??

It has been manic at work. Incredibly busy and somewhat stressful. I have, at present, a very low tolerance for people. I should elaborate, I have a low tolerance for people who, in my opinion, are particularly ridiculous and absurd.

Knitting and blogging has provided an escape from the stress. Until I had the displeasure of receiving an email from another blogger asking me to explain a comment I made on this blog. The funny thing about the email is that the blogger told me what my comment meant. ESP, a great talent to have, wish I had it!

I didnt feel it necessary to reply. I mean really what is the point when someone has so obviously read my mind and knows what I am thinking (I wonder if she has seen the bird??) and what my comment really meant (insert sarcasm here). I just dont think they were really interested in knowing the truth.

So Shazmina, you have some 'splaining to do!

So I will 'splain. Not because I feel I need to. Not because I think you necessarily want to know. But mainly because I dont like being told what I am thinking or feeling (insert hands on hips and stamping of right foot). Only I know that. For me, that comment was a throw away line. A nod to my, obviously misunderstood, sense of humour. How someone chooses to interpret that comment is up to them. And I am truly ok with that. I can't change your perception or your reality, nor do I want to. I respect your right to read what you like into what I write.

That is what makes Human Beings such wonderful and interesting creatures. Life would be boring if we were all the same, dont you think?

Ahhhh, so there is that damned bird!! I found it after all!

Tusk

I finally feel like I am relaxing. Listening to Fleetwood Mac (Tusk is playing as we speak). Love it!

Well the last week has seen me be a bit of a social butterfly. Coupled with being busy at work, it has made for a blogless 10 days. Know that I have read your blogs and they made me smile!

So what have I been up to? I have taught THREE people to knit, although only TWO have made it to the dark side.
My number 2 gay in the village gave up in a huff when he could not master knitting instantly. DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA!! This has made the number 1 gay in the village happy as he is a master crocheter. MORE DRAMA!!


I also put a profile on a dating website. While I am not convinced that this is the best way to meet someone, I thought I would give it a go for a month. We will see what happens.........

Not much else to tell. The 30cm circulars have arrived. Nora assures me they will change my life. I think she might be right because I am about to cast on my first pair of socks! Rose Red Shoes suggested 8ply to start, which is perfect as I am in desperate need of new bed socks. I was a bit excited and decided to make up my own pattern based on my favorite bedsocks, but in the cold light of day I am thinking that I should stick to an existing pattern for my first attempt. Suggestions are welcome!!

And finally, here is the latest update of the Big Bad Baby Blanket. Sadie and Lance, you are going to love it!!

Dithering

I heard that word used twice today. Both times by people under 35. Weird, but I like it. Those types of words and phrases need to be used more often, dont you think?

So I have been known to be a bit of a ditherer. A procrastinator if you will. It has taken me forever to clean my craft room, but once done I felt magnificent. Like I had conquered my dithering. So much so that I have moved on to a revamp of my loungeroom. Pictorial proof of that achievement to follow.

When I cleaned my craft room, I realised exactly how much yarn I own (Oh the Horror!).

* The top shelf contains yarn I have purchased from Nundle Wool Mill for dyeing (4ply, 8ply & 12 ply) and kntting related bits and bobs.

* The next shelf down contains my biggest shame. UFO's.

* Shelf 3 contains various yarns I have purchased. Some for specific projects. Some because it was so pretty.

* Finally shelf 4 contains more yarn, the bits left over from projects, and various dyes.

Oh the Horror alright! I had a caniption when I saw it all, finally neatly packed away in their plastic storage bags. How much of a neat/control freak am I???

But a strange thing happened on the weekend. I realised that I am not alone in my neat/control freakiness. Imagine my genuine shock, admiration and down right pleasure when Rose Red Shoes pulled out her WIP, neatly contained in a glorious plastic bag (was it a Glad Bag or no name brand? I forgot to ask!).

Right then I knew we would get along.

Right then I knew I had found anoher yarn soulmate! As if I didnt already know that!! ;)

ps Normally I do not condone the use of plastic bags. Please note that the bags used for this post are reused. Who am I kidding, they are never reused because the bags are never empty!!!! Sigh! Deep breath and repeat after me, "I am embracing the completer/finisher within".

Very Interesting........

Meeting people you have only interacted with online.

I will start at the beginning. I was invited to meet Nora (Black Dog Knits) and Rose Red Shoes, with my good craftin' buddy Brownpants. Luckily for most of the week my mind was pre occupied with various bits and bobs (mainly work) but by Saturday morning I was freakin' out! FREAKIN OUT PEOPLE!!!!! I couldnt decide what to wear, it was raining and I wanted to impress. And then a thought, exactly how much of your own knitting should you wear when you first meet your craftin' online friends???? Luckily, when I thought about this I realised that I have sooooo many UFO's it really wasnt an issue.

So I finally dressed (jeans, runners and long sleeved tshirt thingy & a pale blue beret I had made), and went to collect Brownpants.

Did I mention it was raining? It was hideous! And then trying to find a carpark. And then walking to the cafe (my heart was pounding) And then there she was. Nora. Wow. I dont know exactly what I was expecting but it was like seeing her blog walking, talking and breathing!!

After we settled ourselves with coffees, Rose Red arrived. And again, it was like seeing a blog come to life.

And as I looked around the table it got me thinking. We are all so like our blogs. It was so surreal.

Nora was charming, warm, LOTS of fun. But the most noticeable thing about her was how stylish she is. And effortlessly so, exactly like her blog! She bought some socks for show and tell made from Sundara yarn. Sigh! They were lucious! But most importantly she has inspired me to finally knit socks!! Nora, I am ordering the 30cm circulars as we speak!!! :)

And Rose Red. Wow, she was just so calm and warm and too damn cute! Easy to see what she has a lot in common with Bells!! She was wearing one of her beautful knits in a GORGEOUS purple colour (it is on her blog she finished it to take to NYC for her holiday earlier this year). We admired her knitting, her cardigan (it is stunning) and especially her shoes! Red boots, sigh!

And then there is my Brownpants. She is so complicated and so uncomplicated all at once (is that possible??) FIERCELY intelligent, sweet and caring and obsessive when it comes to craft (and beer!). Her blog is so her, I just adore her!

And then there was me. A little quiet and shy to begin with, but then I warm up and watch out, before you know it I am talking about s*x and adult toys!! Oh and knitting "special adult" things for your men. Mwahahahahahaha! In my world, it always seems to come back to that topic!! :)

We left promising to meet again. And I know we will, hopefully more of you will come along as well and we can meet you too.
I promise not to drag the conversation down......... unless it ends up there anyway!!

ps Hope you can make it soon Bells!!

Paralysed

With choice. Fear. Ok, lets face what it really is, procrastination.

I have not knit a stitch this week. Not one. I sat on my couch and couldnt decide what to knit. There are soooooo many unfinished projects, I just didnt know where to start. It was paralysing. So I made the decision to finally sew my Barcelona skirt (I am in love with Amy Butler!).

Before I could commence on the skirt, I had to clean my sunroom/craft room. (Look there goes that damned bird again!!).
That was the deal I made with the devil (also known as Princess Meena). I have no photographic evidence of how bad the room was, but let's just say that it was also known as the "Pit (hacking cough) of Despair!".

But with one application of Shazmina, look at it now! So these pics are looking in from the doorway. First, in the left corner is my desk/sewing table with laptop, sewing machine, overlocker (thx Mum!). Too the left of it is my yarn cupboard. This is also one of my stashes. I dont know why I persist in hiding my yarn at the moment. I should be joyously throwing it around the house and rolling in it naked!!

Then the far right corner is a small cupboard, containing various crafts including, beads, embroidery and crochet cottons.


And the nearest right corner, bookshelf containing texts from Uni which I just cant bear to part with, as well as other miscellaneous craft.

All up it took me from 11am (ish) to 6.30pm to get the room to this point. And I love it, all I need is a comfy chair to sit and knit in and it would be perfect! Oh and the willpower to keep it neat and tidy from this point forward.
So now I can go and cut out the skirt and start sewing! Updates on that soon!!

ps. In late breaking news, I no longer have a "thing" for receding hairlines, meaty sideburns and handlebar mustaches! I would like to thank the very unattractive man in Stanmore for daring to sport this look and curing me. Bless him!! :)