tiny happy

I've been back in the office for a couple of weeks now (or has it been three?) but I'm not ready to let go of the summer holiday memories just yet! Here are some more photos from our South Island wanderings earlier in the month. I should say, but didn't last time: we are so grateful that we were able to go away and move around freely, when the rest of the world is experiencing ongoing Covid-19 outbreaks and lockdowns. The Omicron variant has now made it to our shores so restrictions are much tighter now than over the new year. I look back on our summer photos now with amazement – we were so lucky to be able to relax and enjoy a break away from the city.

I hope you are doing very well, wherever you may be. These are still really strange times. I'm also grateful for my (our?) love of quiet pursuits and things that can be done at home! I'm also sharing a few recently-finished projects in this post.

I finished my summer knitting project: the Sol top, which is a design by Jacqueline Cieslak. For this, I used 4 balls of Sesia cotton yarn in a light grey shade. I'm really happy with the finished piece – the only thing I would change is to make it a little longer. It's knitted bottom-up, so I had to play it safe with the quantity of yarn I had. It works well with high-waisted skirts and pants though and I guess I could also layer it over a dress! Will need to experiment with some clothes I already have.

Here are a few more notes about the project, over on my Ravelry page.

Making this has sparked my interest in summer knitting more generally. I have a few linen and cotton yarns waiting for a new project so have been looking through Ravelry for t-shirt and top patterns. Please let me know if you have a favourite summer knit I should check out.

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I've also included photos of a fun crafty afternoon I spent with Keira recently. We hauled all the art supplies out of the cupboard and I stocked up my stationery supplies by making a bunch of gift tags, envelopes and postcards using pressed flowers from the spring and pictures from old gardening books. It's always a fun time, I recommend it on your next rainy afternoon!

I found a sheet of shiny blank labels and used them to make 'stickers' for my young nieces by painting little flowers and insects with watercolours. I'm looking forward to sending them a letter with stickers very soon.

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Inspired by a post I saw last year from the wonderful Public Library Quilts Instagram account, I took a piece of embroidery I completed in 2020, at the time of the Black Lives Matter protest in Wellington and attached it to a tote bag, together with a patchworked border from hand-dyed linen scraps. I wouldn't have normally thought of using embroidery on something utilitarian like a tote bag. But actually, I can wash it if it gets dirty and I love being able to look at and use this piece I did every day. Reminding me of the power of those marches and also that being anti-racist is a daily commitment. 

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I wish you all the very best for the week ahead. Love,

Melissa