west

This is Muriwai - a wild, west coast beach famous for its black iron sand. We visited on Friday hoping to make the most of the last of the warm weather with an autumn swim. I wasn't brave enough to get into the cold water. So we sat on the clifftop looking out to Motutara Island and ate a picnic lunch and watched the surfers.

Reading: We three go South : the 1890 diary of Ethel Richardson's trip to the Sub-Antarctic
Viewing: Judy Millar : the model world showing at Te uru Waitakere contemporary gallery
Watching: The Americans season 3
Eating: feijoas - fresh from our trees

long weekend

Last weekend was another long one with a public holiday on Friday. Each day was perfect - Friday on Waiheke Island visiting friends and walking the sculpture walk, Saturday at this small farm to celebrate a birthday, and Sunday with family. Three day weekends have to be one of the best things.
 
Reading: Shortcomings by Adrian Tomine

same but different

This week I finished two more monkeys for the Great Sock Monkey Challenge. I was in a bit of a rush to get them to Wellington to meet the deadline for delivery to the children's hospital. They turned out surprisingly well and, in fact, I think my haste (and lack of fussy perfectionism) gave them a bit more character. Having one ear bigger than the other is cute, right?

I also made some more lavender bags using the bark cloth I bought at Fabric-a-brac. I really love this fabric and these lavender bags that I made for myself. I've put them in my linen cupboard. I still have heaps of lavender left - at least enough for another twenty bags. Eek!

The ceramic bowl was made by Sarah Guppy. We bought it because it reminded us of our lovely Louie. The bowl is beautiful but it makes me sad because I miss Louie so much.

After Watching Under African skies, Listening to Graceland by Paul Simon + Reading Uppercase

Goodbye, Mrs Dog

Louie 1997-2012

Sadly, after a long and slow decline, our dear old dog, Louie, left us yesterday. She was a rescue dog from the SPCA and I hope we gave her the kind of life a good dog deserves. I miss her terribly and I wish now I'd bought her more pies and taken her for longer, slower walks. She was such a comfort. Thank you for everything, Lou. We had good times.

Channelling Jane

I listened to Jane Brocket who advises buying quilt fabric whenever you see any that you really love rather than waiting to buy it when you have a particular project in mind. The yellow nursery fabric with bunnies and geese and kittens is from Spotlight. Its a lovely custard yellow and I bought 2 metres I loved it so much. I might use it as a backing. I'm not thinking about the next quilt but having nice fabric on hand does make it tempting to contemplate.

I found the two grey fabrics at a market in Wellington. You can also get these fabrics here. I especially like the dog fabric - chasing a red ball with a blue mouse and trails of little paw prints everywhere. Perfect.

And speaking of dogs ... meet the "debonair dachshund". He is from an old knitting book Double knitting toys - one of the Weldons Practical Knitting series. I'd guess it's from the 1950s. The book has patterns for nine toys : lamb, teddy, doll, ball, golly, dachshund, rabbit, clown and elephant. But I thought the dog was the cutest although the more I look at him the odder he seems. But his face really is cute and I love that he's described as having "an engaging air that appeals to young and old." Very important.

Walking the dog

My poor old dog has been unwell again. I spent most of yesterday moping around worrying about her. She seems a lot better today and we've had a couple of short, slow walks together to enjoy the sunshine and spring gardens in the neighbourhood.

Have you seen Amy Borrell and Luci Everett's blog, we make words? They take it in turns to 'make' a word using objects - ribbon, petals, drinking straws - and then post a photo of it on their blog. It's really very clever.

The scarf

The scarf is finished. It's right in so many ways. It has cables that I love. And because it uses chunky weight yarn and is really only a scarflette or 'neck wrap' it knits up quickly - great for a last minute gift. I used this free pattern from Kaleidoscope Yarns.

The blocking was brilliant. I'm a convert. I only wish I'd taken a 'before' photo so you could see the difference blocking made. It flattened the scarf out so that it didn't curl in on itself and sort of eased it into its correct dimensions.
This is a birthday gift for my mother - something to keep her warm through the end of winter.

My poor dog has not been well so I stayed home with her today and we had a really nice time. It was such a brilliant day - cold but sunny. She got lots of attention and I got lots of washing dry and even had time for a bit of quilting.

Five faves, week two

I'm loving this 5 faves thing started on Meet me at Mikes. It's so positive.
Here are my five for this week:

1. 'Bobby Dazzler's make your own misfits' book. It has 35 patterns for softies including this slug that I made. Slimy. Slimy.


2. Bento lunch box bands. I bought this cute blue one that has "happy balloon" printed on it. I put it around my diary to keep all those extra notes, tickets, photos etc from falling out. Ingenious! Thanks to Craftster here's how to make one.


3. Another book - 'The creative habit' by Twyla Tharp - to help get your creative yah-yahs out.

4. My pantry! Over Easter it got emptied, cleaned, decluttered, re-organised, re-packaged and labeled. It actually looks pretty much how it used to but now I can find stuff. I stand at the door gazing into its depths of orderliness.

5. Bruce the bull terrier (my most favourite dog breed) as seen on Astulabee - one of my favourite blogs. He is so adorable. More photos here.