twoandsix

i'll be right back...

I'm just about to turn off my computer and head out the door.  A girlfriend and I are going away for a couple of days - just because!

Just because we need some time-out from the craziness of our everyday lives.
Just because we are desperate for some sleep.
Just because we love all the same things, and can't wait to discover and experience some new and exciting treasures and places (well, new to us at least!!)

We've put everything in place to make sure things run smoothly at home without us - and although we'll miss our loved ones, we're sure we'll come back refreshed, and with a spring our in step!

So, if you see two really happy ladies wandering around Surry Hills tomorrow, please smile and say 'hello'!

come, walk with me

Put on your sweater and overcoat, and pull on your wellies.  Come, walk with me.  We won't go very far, just into my backyard for a few moments - just long enough to feel the icy air on our faces, and see our breath swirl before us as we exhale.

Slide your arm through mine and move in close, if we're careful we won't slip on the wet grass, but if we do, we can save each other from falling.

It's raining softly, the clouds hang heavy and low overhead. Droplets glisten on leaves and reflect the light - like tiny stars twinkling in a sea of green.  Our minds are clear and alert, and we tune into the magic that lies before us - the ordinary, the everyday, yes, but somehow today (maybe because we are sharing this moment together) everything appears more real, more vivid and more beautiful.  

We embrace the stillness and breathe without words.  With rain on our noses and eyelashes, we huddle a little closer together, and soak in each others warmth.  

We smile and head back inside, removing wet layers as we go.  The kettle is on and John is playing in the background.  Let's sit for a while.  We can sip our chai and flick through magazines.  We can talk some and laugh a lot, and maybe even cry - just a little.

Have a wonderful weekend x

a time to share

Thank you for all the wonderful comments left in response to my celebrating post.  I was swept away to some incredibly beautiful places as I read what you 'are loving' right now.  Thankyou for sharing your joys and inspirations - i'm in the process of responding to each and everyone personally.

Congratulations to the winners of my bunting giveaway.  Michelle will be receiving the atlas bunting and Julie can look forward to her novel version arriving the the mail. 

Just as an 'extra' thankyou for all the wonderful comments and emails, here is a little tutorial showing how I make mine - just in case you would like to make your own:



[]  Trim the edges off the page.  My page measures 4 1/2 inches wide x the height of the original page.
[]  Measure 2 1/4 inches along the bottom, mark and cut from this centre point to the top corners to form a triangle.


 
[] Fold over top edge 1 inch.
[] Trim off the little overhanging pieces.



[] Cut your length of string (mine is 4 metres long).  I work from the middle out, so measure 2 metres and start from here.  Lay sting in folded crease and apply a small blob of craft glue.  This will prevent your flags from sliding around.
[] Secure with a paper clip for a minute or so, allowing glue to dry.
[] Repeat with the rest of your paper flags.  I have 15 flags per bunting with 2 1/2 inch spaces between each one.



[] Now machine sew across each flag using a nice straight stitch.  I sew 1/4 inch in from the edge.  I also leave some nice 'flyaway' lengths of cotton each end :-)

I hope my explanations have been clear. You can click on the pictures to see a larger image.  Please feel free to email me with any questions.

Enjoy xx

from the top down

Most of our weekend was spent indoors.  I watched the wind and rain through our windows, and longed for the sun.  Our cat tiptoed around the house, looking for warm patches on the carpet - he slinked away, dissapointed.   It was a perfect opportunity to do some knitting - a project that has been on my 'list' for almost a year, cast on last week and finished yesterday.

A wonderful top-down vest - knitted in a soft, grey wool tweed.  Another relatively quick project, modified just a little.

I love the simple design - it allows my sweet Ziggy to move and play without feeling restricted.  It curls around his shoulders perfectly, and covers his bottom - all the important parts are being kept warm!  Made big enough to last him through this winter, and next (i hope).

creative space

I'm playing along for the first time with kootoyoo's 'creative space'.

Sadly, I don't have just one space that I can call my own.  I dream of a the day when I can have my very own craft room, but until then I'm content to occupy many creative spaces within our home!  When crafting during the day i can usually be found in the kitchen, cutting and sewing on our large table.  The light streams through our windows, and even during winter it's warm and cozy.  But of course everything needs to be packed up when it's time to cook and sit down for dinner... very frustrating.

Most evenings, once the younger children are in bed, I curl up on the couch and pull my knitting out -  our loungeroom becomes my creative space!  I have a large cupboard in another room where I keep my supplies, and when I'm not so organised I have piles of treasures and wip's lined up on benches and shelves, and containers living where they shouldn't be....  oh, my poor long-suffering family!!

Today I'm surprisingly organised!  My creative space consists of two projects sitting neatly and quietly, waiting patiently for me to 'play' with them when I get a moment.

[] The beginnings of a vest I'm knitting for my little man [] A scattering of vintage buttons - i'm still deciding whether they will be the 'perfect' ones I will use for the vest [] A delicious pile of fabric that is destined to become a small quilt for Ziggy - he's asking for a 'blanket' to snuggle in every time he sits down - so I thought i'd make one especially for him.

For a peek at some other creative spaces, look here.

 

a moment

The time arrived to capture my moment - an image for this magical group.
An optional theme - one that i happily embraced: [new]

What is [new] to me? 

I look around, and my eyes settle on a [new] project that Madison and I have been working on together - Kusudama flowers made from book pages.  I discovered them here, along with links to some wonderful tutorials.

I love that we have created something [new] by using something old, and more than anything, i love that we have learnt something [new] together.

celebrating

Today i'm celebrating, and giving thanks to everyone in this wonderful crafting and blogging community who has been so incredibly supportive of me, and my twoandsix blog this week.  The response I received to pea green has been overwhelming, and I was thrilled to have it mentioned on some amazing sites.  Ziggy's hat pattern showed up on Craftzine, and then made an appearance on One Pretty Thing.  Both of these sites showcase some amazing talent and craft and I was honored to be included amongst them.  Then sweet Amanda from Soule Mama included a link from her blog to mine! Happy, happy!!!  Then when people started visiting via a link from WhipUp i discovered that the gorgeously talented Kirsty from kootoyoo had whispered in someones ear over there.  Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou! 

As well as doing a little knitting, i've been making buntings this week.  I adore them, and started making them after my first son was born (have I mentioned that he's almost eighteen???  They really do grow up too fast).  They've remained a favorite over the years - a bunting always makes it feel like spring! 

I'm [currently in love] with vintage paper and books, so it seemed perfectly reasonable to create some buntings using the beautiful  pages from a novel printed in 1948 (for me), and pages from a 1970's Atlas (for my 10 year old son, BJ).  I'm thrilled with the result - threaded onto cotton twine, they sway gently in the breeze and make me smile every time I walk past them.

So, as part of my celebrations i've made two extra to giveaway - one novel and one atlas.  For those who would like their own paper bunting, please leave a comment here by the end of Sunday, 19 July - telling me what you're [currently in love] with, along with your preference (novel or atlas).

And now my baby is awake.  It's time to finish the 'Thomas the Tank Engine' jigsaw puzzle we started before his nap.

handmade - with love

Yesterday....

Eden:  "Mummy, can you knit me a hat"?

Mummy: "Of course sweetheart, i'd love to".

We spent some time looking through patterns on Ravelry - she finally selected this wonderful pattern, and this color. I was so proud that she chose it herself.

She snuggled up next to me as I cast on last night, excited to watch it 'grow' before her eyes.  This afternoon I was casting off just as she arrived home from school.  

This is one of the reasons why i adore 'handmade' so much.  There's nothing more fulfilling than being able to create something for someone you love, and know that they will love it too.

a sense of wonder

"I see things with an intense joy, and while I observe, there is no observer, only beauty almost like love.  For an instant, I am absent, myself and my problems, my anxieties, my troubles; nothing but the wonder exist" ~ krishnamurti

This is how I felt this morning as I wandered though our garden. 

The storms of the weekend have passed and the sun shone for us today.  Amongst the debris I discovered these treasures, and for just a moment, nothing but wonder existed.

pea green

I've had many requests for this little beanie pattern , so I thought i'd write it up and share it with you all.  This is an extremely simple and quick knit.  Cast on at the beginning of a DVD, and you could be casting off as the credits roll!

The following measurements fit my Ziggy's 49cm head perfectly, however, they are meant to be used as a guide only.  Decide how wide you would like your beanie to be, then cast on the appropriate number of stitches to suit your preferences and choice of yarn.

DETAILS
Finished measurements:
18"/47 cm long x 8"/20cm wide

Yarn:
Any bulky yarn would work well.  I've used Moda Vera Shiver (super soft for a little persons head, and it drapes beautifully).  2 x 50 gram balls.
[approximately 90m of yarn]

Needles and Notions:
1 pair 7.5mm needles
Tapestry needle

Gauge:
Not important in this pattern.

Using Provisional Cast on on method, cast on 25 stitches.

Row 1:  Knit
Row 2:  Purl
Starting with Row 3, be sure to slip (as if to purl) the last three stitches on each KNIT row.  This will give you and i-cord trim to keep the edge from curling.
Row 3:  Knit (being sure to slip the last 3 stitches!)
Row 4: Purl

Repeat Rows 3 & 4 until your piece is long enough to wrap around your child's head.

Break working yarn, leaving a tail long enough for grafting.  Remove provisional stitches and place live sitches on needle.  Knit into the little half stitch at the end of the non i-cord edge to make up equal number of stiches on each needle.

Using Kitchener Stitch, graft the 2 sets of live stitches together.

Join top seam, making sure the grafted section is placed at middle back of hat.

Add tassles, and enjoy!