Knitter's Tea Swap Package!

Vanilla sugar and Bitter Chocolate Smores.... drool.....

Chrysanthemum and Wolfberry tea - smells So. Good. And Rose black tea.... yum....

A box of See's Candies - I almost fell headfirst into the box when I opened it! I now have to find a VERY safe hiding place, as I made the mistake of letting Dave watch me open the package!

Two skeins of Cascade 220 - I have been wanting to try this yarn for ages, but there is only one place in Australia that you can get it.

Artfibers yarn in Kyoto - silk/kid mohair/wool - sooooo soft! I'm going to make a scarf that can snuggle around my neck, I think! And a handmade tissue holder - the Japanese fabric is fantastic!

Thank you so much, Carol - I love all of my gifts, and I can't wait to use them!!

*bounce*

Purchase!

This is what I bought on Saturday, with Yarnivorous' guidance. Yarnivorous would have been more than happy to guide me into several more purchases, but I was strong! Strong I tell you! This is Marta's hand dyed bulky weight yarn. 100% wool, and so very very pretty! I have NEVER knit with bulky weight yarn before, so I'm a bit unsure as to what to make with this - any suggestions? There was some more there in the shop which I am thinking about going back for next week......

And for those who asked, yesterday's Skein O' Worship (thankyou, Carrie!) is also one of Marta's creations - top quality 100% Australian Merino, lovingly hand dyed by the Goddess of Colour herself. Really, I feel there is no other way to refer to Marta. I have difficulty even driving past her shop without a wistful sigh.

Saturday and Sunday was my and Dave's six year wedding anniversary. It runs over two days because we had the wedding in two parts: Day one was the civil ceremony, the legal one, with mostly relatives and a few friends for moral support. We were supposed to be holding it in a local park (which has the advantage of being the original cemetary for the area), but the forecast for the day was hail. Just what you want to hear the night before your wedding. Fortunately, we have some of the best friends EVER. They hired a hall just across from the park, collected Candelabra from everyone we knew, picked every rose petal they could find (we heard dark tales of beheading the neighbour's roses late that night), and catered the darn thing. With about fourteen hours notice. Even though they weren't attending that day's ceremony. I was so grateful that they'd sorted it out so that I could sleep that night - and then we walked into the hall. It was dimly lit. There was a long red carpet serving as the aisle, leading up to a table which had been beautifully decorated by our lovely lovely friends. Candelabra lined the aisle, and there were rose petals scattered everywhere. The music was in Latin - it sounded like a medieval funeral dirge. It. Was. So. COOL. We felt so loved, and we couldn't have decorated the place better if we'd had weeks to plan it. Also, we got to deeply concern our relatives by choosing "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll for one of our readings. Heh.

The second day was more of a party - we hired out a local Art Deco movie theatre, got one of our friends to "officiate" at a handfasting ceremony, and we all got Dressed Up. The theme was black and purple, the caterers were magic (the head caterer followed me around all afternoon and made sure I got to eat something), and it was huge fun. We even had our choir there to perform some beautiful music. Afterwards, when we were all a little worse for wear (ahem) we'd organised the theatre to screen Robin Hood ( the one with Errol Flynn, obviously), and we handed out choc top icecreams. Just perfect.

Anyhoo, this weekend we went to our favourite cafe for breakfast, and wandered up and down Chapel st, buying a couple of little things for ourselves (a dvd or two, nothing big) and of course visiting the pet shop. They had a cage full of Birman kittens, Oh The Cuteness!! Yesterday we splurged and went to The Glen (local shopping centre) and discovered their new totally organic supermarket. We went a little nuts. Organic fruit and veg, nuts, rennet-free cheeses, organic dried fruit, fresh organic soups.... we were in there for over an hour. Kids in a candy shop had nothing on us, it was glorious! And mrspao? They sell Green & Blacks with cherries!!!! Happy sigh.

Goodness, long post! I have been a bit sketchy lately, so I guess I had some to catch up on!

Good thing for the day: Remembering how cool our wedding was and how cool our friends are has made me all warm and fuzzy. Awwww.
Bad thing for the day: It's 6.45am, cold, dark, and Monday morning.

The Most Beautiful Skein in the World

This was my gift to myself last week for getting through the clusterfuck situation without killing myself or anyone else. Although the excuse was kind of nominal - once I laid eyes on this georgeousness, I was taking it home with me no matter what. It was hideously expensive. It was worth every cent.

Still Here!

Sorry I went quiet, folks - work has calmed down hugely, but I've been very very tired the last few days. So lazy.

I had lunch with the lovely Wafflehouse yesterday - and last night I helped her cast on her very first sock. Bwahahahaha!!

Good thing for the day: Lunch with E today.
Bad thing for the day: I'm not awake enough.

Project Spectrum With Cats!

This is a card I bought while out shopping with the Corset Posse on Saturday. Excuse the flash - this was the best shot I could get! I love this card - it's by a German artist called Quint Buchholz. It's beautiful - the colour, the cats, and the mood of the scene. A group of cats just sitting together in the park at night. It reminds me of a Neil Gaiman story - has anyone read Dream of a Thousand Cats? It started me thinking that maybe all the blogger's cats meet up when they dream as well. This card is going to work with me so that I can see it all day!

Good thing for the day: Knitting and Chocolate Trudi is ordering some lovely sock yarn from overseas and I'm getting some as well so that we can split the postage.
Bad thing for the day: I'm supposed to be the one luring her into sock yarn purchases! Oops.

Sneaking up on Dorian

La la la, leaves and birds and people and cars, lalalala

I bet I could get a bird if one came close enough... I wouldn't bang my head on the glass this time, stupid window can't fool me twice!

What the?? Don't DO that!

Went corset shopping on Saturday. We also went to Sexyland shopping for toys, but that's a whole other story that no one wants to read!

I ordered a corset. Black brocade with silver cherry blossoms for the front panel, plain black for the rest. It is costing a FORTUNE. But it is Worth. Every. Cent. Va Va Voom doesn't begin to cover it! Beautifully constructed, top quality materials - fantastic! And the group of girls (me, Gibbering, and Wafflehouse) got to try corsets on each other. A plan with no drawbacks. Purplexity was sniffly and sick, but nobly assisted with lacing, unlacing, colour choices, and general admiration.

We then went off to Gertrude St for a good lunch, and a wander up and down the shops, some of which were very funky indeed. I went to a shop called Artisan Books which has the BEST range of knitting books! So cool! But I was very restrained and only bought a back issue of InterWeave Knits. Wafflehouse bought Knitting Vintage Socks. And on the way home we stopped at a yarn store and Wafflehouse bought her first sock yarn. Bwahahahaha!!

Good thing for the day: I love my friends!

Bad thing for the day: It's Monday morning and I'm at work. 'Nuff said.

And a Meme

I got tagged by mrspao! I love doing these things.

1) What time did you get up this morning?
8.15am. Sadly, this is a two hour sleep in for us as we usually get up at 6.15am during the week.

2) Diamonds or Pearls?
Diamonds. My engagement ring is a rectangular amethyst flanked by two diamonds. But, of course, I also have a beautiful string of black freshwater pearls that Dave brought me back from India.

3) What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
V for Vendetta. Great movie!

4) What are your favourite TV shows?
House, Spaced, and Couplings.

5) What did you have for breakfast today?
Ski Honey Buzz yoghurt and rice cakes.

6) What is your middle name?
Peta. I like it.

7) What is your favourite cuisine?
Japanese. I love my sushi! Which is good, cause sushi is very good for me.

8) What foods do you dislike?
I cannot tolerate fresh coriander even in the smallest amounts. I don't like aniseed either.

9) What is your favourite crisp flavour?
Good old Salt and Vinegar. Can't go wrong with Salt N Vinegar! Which is also handy because Dave hates Salt and Vinegar which means I get them all to myself.

10) What is your favourite cd at the moment?
Scissor Sisters.

11) What kind of car do you drive?
Ditto with mrspao. The driving instructor gets to choose!

12) Favourite sandwich?
I'm with mrspao here. Chip butty.

13) What characteristics do you despise?
Arrogance, narrow-mindedness.

14) What are your favourite clothes?
My Doc Martins, jeans, purple velvet jacket.

15) A place you would like to holiday?
Oh, now you've opened the floodgates! Japan, England, America, Canada, Russia, Norway.....

16) What colour is your bathroom?
Blue and grunge.

17) Favourite brand of clothing?
Don't have one! I hate clothes shopping!

18) Where would you want to retire to?
Up in the Dandenongs. Or near the beach somewhere.

19) Favourite time of day?
Evening. Dinner to be eaten, knitting to be done.

20) Where were you born?
Upper Ferntree Gully.

21) Favourite sport to watch?
Gymnastics. They're so bendy!

22) Who do you least expect to send this back?
Johnny Depp. It seems unlikely at this point.

23) Person you expect to send it back?
Johnny Depp. I'm an optimist.

24) Coke or Pepsi?
Vanilla Diet Coke or Coke Zero.

25) Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Either. Both. It depends. Mornings are easier if there is caffeine freely available.

26) Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with everyone?
Nah. I tell you guys everything anyway!

27) What did you want to be when you were little?
A librarian. They get to be surrounded by books all day.

28) What is your best childhood memory?
Going to the library with our book bags. Cause I knew they'd let me take more books away with me.

29) What are the different jobs you've had in your life?
Racecourse computer operator for taking bets. You just can't beat a workplace with alcohol and swearing. Also, customer service at the Evil Insurance Company, and now administration and regulation for the state government.

30) Nicknames?
The only one I'm willing to reveal is Kellie-bear cause K calls me that.

31) Piercings?
Um..... 6 in the left ear, 3 in the right, and my eyebrow.

32) Eye colour?
Hazel.

33) What colour underwear are you wearing?
Black. And red. Probably.

34) Been in a car accident?
Only a couple of minor ones, fortunately.

35) Favourite day of the week?
Saturday.

36) Favourite restaurant?
Ripe up at Sassafrass.

37) Favourite flower?
Violets. Cause they're purple and they smell gorgeous.

38) Favourite icecream?
Sara Lee Cookies and Cream. Yum.

39) Favourite fast food restaurant?
Um. Mcdonalds cause they have Oreo McFlurries.

40) How many times did you fail your driving test?
You're assuming I've been foolish enough to take it.

41) Before this one, from whom did you get your last email?
Myself at work. Work that one out!

42) Which store would you choose to max out your credit card in?
Marta's Yarns. Oooh, the possibilities!

43) Bedtime?
After ten pmish I start to get grumpy.

44) Who are you most curious about their response to this questionnaire?
Johnny Depp.

45) Last person you went out to dinner with?
Dave. We went to a friend's house for dinner last Saturday.

46) What are you listening to right now?
Myself typing.

47) What is your favourite colour?
Purple.

48) How many tattoos do you have?
One. So far.

49) How many people are you sending this email to?
Ha!

YARN

Spunky Eclectic sock yarn from Kpixie

Custom dyed laceweight in Merlot from SweetGeorgia

And All Things Heather sock yarn in Black Arbor. Isn't it beautiful???

Work got better and better yesterday. The clusterfuck fallout is going to hit me as well. Or try to. But I have beautiful yarn! And they don't! Bwahahahahah! And the colleague I took to the wool store last week? Is halfway through her scarf, planning a matching hat, and promising to knit scarves for her team mates. She is So. Hooked.

I am chirpy this morning. Last week was just awful, in just about every respect. Which means that while trying to eat healthy, pizza and teddy bear biscuits made an appearance. So I was dreading this morning's weigh-in. But. I LOST WEIGHT ANYWAY!!! Another 0.9 kg!! Which is 1.98 pounds. Which means that so far I've lost a total of 1.7 kg, or 3.74 pounds. It looks like more in pounds.

Good thing for the day: I'm off corset shopping with Gibbering, Purplexity, and Wafflehouse.
Bad thing for the day: Isn't one. Corsetcorsetcorset.

Since it Worked So Well Last Time

Look!! Meiko paws!! And WHISKERS!!!

Thank you all so much for the well-wishes - Dave is back to normal, and now we're both trying to catch up on lost sleep. I told Dave about the well-wishes and he said "Hmmlkadjkllj" - which, if you speak Sheepish Mumble, translates to "I can't believe you told the whole internet about that but thankyou."

Work is still hellish. The Temp From Hell has now taken FOUR DAYS to complete two tasks which I confidently expected her to have sorted by the end of day one. And the clusterfuck is reaching gargantuan proportions - I got shouted at by a completely different person yesterday! Such fun. I didn't swear, but I did resort to the Icy Voice of Doom, which allows you to express an opinion of the rude unprofessional bitch on the other end of the phone while sticking to the letter of Customer Service Best Practice. I've taken to eating lunch at my desk so that I can get some work done while the temp is out. Sigh.

I got two packages the other day! No, three. Ooops. I got my three skeins of custom-dyed laceweight from Sweet Georgia to make a shawl for K, I got two outrageously beautiful skeins of sock yarn from Kpixie, and my messenger bag and tshirt from Crazy Aunt Purl. Pics to follow.

Good thing for the day: Meiko Whiskers
Bad thing for the day: Not yet having winged attack monkeys sitting under my desk at work ready to savage temps at my command.

Wednesday

Sorry I've been a bit quiet, guys! Dave had a kidney stone episode early yesterday morning, and I've spent the last little while looking after him (the emergency room at 5 in the morning is an upleasant place), and organising doctor's visits and scans and things.

Also, now that I'm back at work, a situation which has been lurking ominously has turned into a complete clusterfuck (I believe that's the technical term), and I'm trying to deal with that while training a temp who I want to strangle.

But, it's cool. Dave is okay, and that's the main thing.

Back to regular posting soon!

Monday Morning

Blergh. I'm at work.

Dave and I did some quick grocery shopping yesterday. The startling thing is that as we were heading for the checkout, I took a mental tally of everything in our baskets. We had rice cakes, tofu, soy milk, lowfat yoghurt, lowfat soups, fruit and vegies. Every single thing was healthy. And we were looking forward to eating it - yum! So weird. Although I'll admit I did feel a pang of longing walking down the biscuit aisle.

Worked out yesterday morning. Had porridge for lunch and enjoyed every bit of it. The world has obviously gone completely mad.

Also, I seem to be experiencing a crafty slump. I have four knitting and two crochet projects sitting waiting for me, and I didn't want to do any of them. So I did what any normal person would do: I cast on for a ridiculously complex project that I really don't have time for. Yeah. I feel better now!

Good thing for the day: It's overcast and gloomy and raining. I love this weather!
Bad thing for the day: The 37 fiddly emails that greeted me this morning when I logged on.

A Sight To Warm a Knitter's Heart

Two cones of pure wool sock yarn - 250g each - $10 total. I love Knit n Purl in Dandenong.

And the other good thing? Since last weekend, I've lost 0.8kg. Yay me!

Behold the Project Spectrum-y Goodness

It's not actually quite this neon, but you get the idea.

I have to travel several suburbs away for work tomorrow. But. The suburb we're going to has a yarn store. And the lady I'm travelling with agrees that we must visit it. And possibly have lunch. Bwahahahah. Watch! As I corrupt the innocent! Hear! How I got her hooked with just one garter stitch scarf! Gasp! In horror at my blatant manipulation of working hours subverted into yarn shops.

Hoo boy, it's way past my bedtime, isn't it??

Good thing for the day: Crafties was really good.
Bad thing for the day: I cannot crochet in my sleep.

Cuddles

Awwww...... look at those little fat paws! Meiko likes to lounge on my lap in the evenings. Seconds later, of course, those little fat paws were swiping wildly at the camera cord.

This morning I ordered the coolest knit shirt ever.

Good thing for the day: Day three of eating properly and exercising regularly is going well. Yay!
Bad thing for the day: Being an adult and having to make tough decisions.

Knitting!

Raspberry Limeade from Sunshine Yarns!

Gryffindor from Sunshine Yarns!

See, I'm still a knitter!!

Things NOT to do at work Part Two:
Mention in a team meeting that you'd "rather eat your own feet" than go to the Departmental business planning session.

Tuesday

I think Blogger's mad at me - it won't upload pictures this morning. Thank you all for your comments/commiserations on the crochet thing. Yesterday I bought four more balls of crochet cotton and another crochet hook. I am so doomed.

And I've decided to start a new daily topic: Peeve's List of Things NOT to Do at Work.

Number One: Yell "Go Away, I'm Dead!" when the phone rings.

How I ever became a customer service goddess I'll never know.

Uh-oh.

Mum, this had better not be what I think it is....


Last night I crocheted.

And I LIKED it.

Secret Pal 8 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love merino, alpaca, etc - I've never met a sock yarn I didn't like, although I'm not a big fan of novelty yarns or synthetics.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Um.....at the moment I chuck them all in a big plastic bin....

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned to knit when I was about eight, but I only took it up again seriously about 18 months ago. I consider myself an intermediate knitter.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
God yes. It's huge.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I love violets, vanilla, simple floral scents.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Unfortunately, yes. I love chocolate with fillings, and also candy that is tangy or sour.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I am obsessed with fountain pens and notebooks, I cross-stitch, and I am contemplating learning to crochet.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like Placebo, Garbage, Scissor Sisters, etc - but I'm always interested in hearing new stuff!

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
Purple is my favourite colour, but I also like greens, greys, and reds - I'm not big on pastels.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have one husband and three cats.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes. But not ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Socks, shawls, lace, and afghan squares, cause I like learning new stitch patterns.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Cedar Creek socks from the STR club, and a Faroese Shawl in soft red merino.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
I am a gift hussy.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I mostly knit on circular needles, but I use dpns for socks. I used to like bamboo, but now I loooooove my addis!

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Neither. So sad!

17. How did you learn to knit?
Mum taught me!

18. How old is your oldest UFO?
Ummm.... six months?

19. What is your favorite holiday?
Japan. Definitely.

20. Is there anything that you collect?
Fountain pens, yarn!

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I have several books on my Amazon wishlist, and I would love to get my hands on some IK. There are many yarns I would love that we don't get here in Australia: Koigu, Lorna's Laces, Knitpics.... I could go on and on and on.

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I'd like to learn colourwork, I think.

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Heck yes. I LOVE knitting socks. But I have no idea what my foot measurements are. I usually make whatever size the pattern recommends, although if I'm knitting for myself I will make it a little larger - I have broad feet.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
27th March.

Well, Meiko Still Loves Me, Too!

Gosh, sorry about that last post, guys! I do feel a bit better now.......

Black Sunday

We bought a new set of bathroom scales yesterday. I weighed myself this morning.

I am never eating anything again.

Just kill me.

Belated Project Spectrum

Yellow chrysanthemums on the funky skirt I bought at the op shop yesterday

Yellow Marta's 2-ply.

Good thing for the day: I bought 2mm addi's. Woooo!
Bad thing for the day: Going all ranty on you guys. Sorry!

Rant

The following are quotes from our Moronic Fuckhead Also Known as the Prime Minister:

TUESDAY'S budget appears likely to cut the top tax rate, following the strongest hints yet given by Prime Minister John Howard.

Mr Howard fuelled speculation about the 48.5 per cent rate (which includes the Medicare levy) coming down when he declared it was "important in any society to reward excellence".

Mr Howard said every nation needed a percentage of people "who are high income earners because they are outstanding".

"We should never allow envy to creep in if we are to have a total society in which we recognise that there are some people always that will be more heavily rewarded than others because of their skill or good fortune and the returns they get for taking a risk," Mr Howard told 3AW.

You gotta admit, that's a novel way to attempt to put a good spin on TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH BEING PAID FOR BY CUTTING WELFARE. And isn't it good to know that excellence, outstandingess and skill are measured purely BY HOW MUCH YOU EARN? Obviously lower tax brackets are complete losers and deserve no tax breaks whatsoever.

For FUCK'S sake.

Bargain

I simply couldn't wait until tomorrow to post this - I found 22 balls of this vintage Cleckheaton 12-ply (bulky) in an opshop (thrift shop) this afternoon. For 50c a ball. Wooo! I rushed to the cash register with the yarn in one hand and a funky skirt in the other. $8.50 for the lot. I realised (well after I'd left the shop) that the girl had misread the sticker on the two bags and had given them to me for 50c each. 50c each bag. That's ONE DOLLAR for 22 BALLS OF YARN!!!! The colour is duller and pinker than the above photo - it's also quite rough, but I'm going to soak a couple of balls tomorrow and try overdying them with purple and black respectively and see how they go after that.

My god I love it when this kind of thing happens.

Angus Says Grovel, Human!

Gibbering's Angus looking particularly sweet. Of course, he's sweeter if you don't realise that the odds are overwhelming that he will immediately fall off the cupboard directly onto the photographer. Actually, I think that adds to the sweetness - he's a big, clumsy, affectionate cat.

Thank you all for your coveting of the yarn in the previous post - I have been absurdly smug ever since I ordered it. That exact shade of purple is my very favourite!

I had the weirdest team meeting ever yesterday afternoon. We were discussing a particular training provider who failed to tell the (female) students and their (female) friends and relatives (who had agreed to come along and be test cases) in their Brazilian Waxing course that the instructor would be male. This caused some consternation amongst the class and we were laughing at this (cause we are cruel) when the teammate next to me (an older Chinese lady called J) suddenly piped up "What's a Brazilian wax?" Hilarity ensued. I took it upon myself to try and explain.

Me: whisper whisper whisper (I was telling her that some women get certain parts of their bodies waxed)
J: What, you mean like their armpits? *team falls about laughing again*

Me: whisper whisper whisper (I was telling her which parts 'certain parts of their bodies' referred to)
J:What??? *team is almost hysterical by now*

Me: whisper whisper whisper (I was telling her that this includes having certain shapes done)
J:Staring at me incredulously: "I never heard of that!"

This is also the meeting in which I was industriously taking notes when one of my colleagues leaning over to see what I was writing and busted me. I was writing the following: Boring meeting, blah blah blah, risk management blah blah blah, secret plans, blah blah blah.

Good thing for the day: Oh purple sock yarn, how do I love thee?
Bad thing for the day: Purple yarn, purple yarn, wherefore art thou purple yarn?

I'm In LURVE

Is this not the most beautiful sock yarn you've ever seen?? The depth of purple, the slightly variegated purple, the purpleness of it!! I just ordered this from Pure Knits, throwing caution to the winds. This here is exactly my idea of glorious purply goodness......

Excuse me, while I bask.......

*smug*

Dude....

Dude, I totally did not go anywhere near the catnip. Man, have I got the munchies....

Danielle, come on down! You are the lucky winner of the Purple Shawl Giveaway! Email me at purple6 at optushome dot com dot au with your snail mail address and Tim Tam preferences and I'll send it off!

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions regarding the Purple Shawl Giveaway. I am happy to give it away because I want it to go to a good home - I'm extremely uncomfortable with the idea of asking for money for it, even if the money went to a good cause! I enjoy knitting so much that it would feel greedy and rude to ask for even more.

I have signed up for Secret Pal 8 - my first Secret Pal swap ever! I will post my questionnaire tomorrow. I love sending and receiving packages, as I'm sure you all know by now!

Good thing for the day: Finished K's socks, and I will post them off to day. She's gonna love them! I could have just given them to her, but I figured it would be more fun for her to get a surprise package in the mail.
Bad thing for the day: A distinct lack of strawberry slices. E will know what I mean.

Taste Our Creamy Love Candy

It's all mrspao's fault. She has a great picture of some local candy she found, and I remembered finding a random brand of candy at our local asian grocer. I don't think the translator worked too hard on the slogan, because it read "Taste Our Creamy Love Candy". It's good to know that a grown woman can still snigger like a schoolgirl.

No pictures today - Blogger is being cantankerous.

Thank you all for the lovely comments on my shawls! I'm a bit overwhelmed and therefore feeling shy, so I'll pick a recipient over the next couple of days....

Good thing for the day: Knitting a new shawl in incredibly soft red merino baby wool.
Bad thing for the day: Must go to work now and leave new shawl behind.

Last One!

I knitted this one about six months ago - pre-blog. Finally blocked it this weekend, much to the gratification of my cats, who appear to have an inexplicable fondness for sitting on damp knitting. Anyhoo, this is the Irish Diamond Shawl from Folk Shawls (and yes, mrspao, you should buy this book - clearly written patterns, good pictures, the works - and afterwards, you'll never again doubt your ability to knit lace!) knit in two strands of Marta's 2ply.

Detail of the bottom part of the stitch pattern.

One of the four sections of patterning.

Now for the big question - does anyone want this shawl?? It's just not me, but I would hate to see it go to waste (i.e be a cat bed for the rest of its days). Drop me an email or a comment - I'll even throw in a packet of Timtams for the lucky winner! If I get more than one request, I'll pick one at random.

And Project Spectrum for April will be finishedwhenIgetaroundtoitthankyouverymuch.

Good thing for the day: It's my day off!
Bad thing for the day: I can hear the cats playing with something fragile in the kitchen. Scuse me....