tiny happy

Kia ora, Happy New Year to you! I hope you've enjoyed some sort of end-of-year break, whether you're in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere. We've just returned home from a very warm and relaxing summer break, and while I'm back at work now, I feel as though I'm still carrying it around with me. The full moon on the new year, the solstice moon on the sea, the berries and beaches and books in the sun! It was all wonderful and I'm so grateful we had that time with family and friends. 

I brought a few crafty projects with me but didn't get much done in the end. I did knit a linen top which looked better on my sister than me so that was a good result! I used the Ranunculus pattern (I've made it before here and here) but instead of wool I used some Erika Knight Studio Linen yarn in a light brown/coffee shade. My Ravelry notes are here). 

Tamsin has been wearing it over summer dresses, or with a button-up skirt and it looks so nice! I do love that versatile pattern and the summer version was so quick to knit up! I also cast on some socks (just a basic pattern but with colourful self-striping yarn) and (and this is the most exciting thing of all) learned to crochet!

It makes me cringe a bit when I think of all the times I gave up learning this craft. I'm now 40 years old and know with certainty that I'm not a patient learner; I get easily frustrated with myself and don't trust that I will ever 'get' the new skill. It's not something I like about myself but I really want to work on improving that this year. I have a list of new things I'd like to try!

Anyway, it's great to be able to work some basic crochet stitches now and I have plans for blankets. I'd like to make a big granny stripe blanket from my knitting leftovers (like this lovely one) and maybe a few smaller blankets if I can! Big dreams, as always.

Another lovely thing about the holidays was that I had a little more time to read for fun. My brother and sister-in-law gave me A Month in Siena by Hisham Matar for Christmas which I loved. It brings together memories of a Dad now missing and ancient Italian art and thoughts about places. 

I also read a book based on a local TV series I love: Life as a Casketeer by Kaiora and Francis Tipene. It was such an enjoyable read and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in Māori culture, how we think about death and grieving, and of course, anyone who loves the show.

On the last day of the holiday, I found a brand new copy of Elizabeth Gilbert's book Big Magic in the op-shop. I needed something to read on the ferry trip so I bought it for a dollar. I think good fortune and fate might have placed that book in my path, because it felt like the perfect thing to read as I started back at work this week and even though in many ways it's a straight-forward book, the messages in it will stay with me always. I hope to write more about that in my next post.

Sending warm wishes to you for a happy and safe new year.

M