tiny happy

I first met Constança this time last year, but over the weekend we had lunch together and she gave me a copy of her beautiful new book. 

Mãos à Obra! (I think) translates to 'get cracking' as we might say in these parts, and Constança's first book (like her blog) is all about making and doing lovely things, with an emphasis on reusing and repurposing.

Even though the book is in Portugese, it's quite easy to understand its intent: don't put off doing what you'd like to try- everyone is creative and there are many ways to bring this goodness into your life and into other peoples' lives, too.

Mãos à Obra! is filled with very beautiful photography and ideas for making some great projects – from sourdough to seedlings, jackets to jellies.

C moved to the North Island of New Zealand about four years ago, and before that she lived in rural England. She is originally from Lisbon, Portugal. 

This rainbow was glimmering outside my window this morning, just asking to be photographed. 

HANDMADE: A Festival of Making was great fun over the weekend. Much sewing, stitching and printing was done in my classes, and it was great to see so many happy people getting creative.

One of my favourite elements of the festival each year is meeting up with crafty friends from around the country. My dear friend Heleen was doing quite a bit of teaching, but I managed to drink coffee and eat nice food with her inbetween. And there were other friends to chat to and catch up on their projects and news.

I bought some of this beautiful hand-dyed yarn and started yet another knitting project. Will show you soon, when I've made a little more progress…

The pretty floral fabric in the first photo above was a gift from my newest friend Constança. She travelled from her rural town to take some classes at Handmade, but she is originally from Portugal. I'll write more about Constança and her work, including a new book, tomorrow.

A long-limbed rabbit, made from cotton velveteen recycled from a theatre costume, is just relaxing in the garden this morning. He'll be accompanying me to this class this afternoon – participants can choose to make either a rabbit or a linen bear. Should be fun!

I hope you have a lovely weekend ahead.

– M

This was our sky today – just before the sun set. Beautiful greys and blues. Winter is here now: this morning those dark hills were covered in snow but it melted during the day.

Last week I finished two knitting projects: a winter hat for Tom and another for his brother. Now I've cast on another for a third brother, and Arlo has also requested one. I hope they don't find it too cheesy to have matching handknitted hats, like a team.

Pattern is this one by Stephen West – it's a great design – easy to knit but interesting, too. More details about the yarn, etc on my fledgling Ravelry page here.

I hope you're keeping warm with tea and some sort of cosy project close to hand. 

I recently got prescription glasses, which have really changed my life. I'm so grateful for them. My favourite things all involve using my eyesight in quite an intense way. You know, activities like knitting, embroidery, reading, etc. I can enjoy doing these again. Hooray for optometry!

At the HANDMADE festival this year, I'll be teaching a few classes like always, but this year there's a new one: 'elementary embroidery.' 

To make it the best it can be, I've been organising supplies (extra threads, linen and hoops) and little booklets of instructions and diagrams. I also enlisted some friends to be guinea-pig students, and we had a trial class last weekend. Everyone made great little stitched artworks. 

My newly-boosted stash of threads and hoops mean I'll be ready for an impromptu embroidery party at all times.

There are still some places in this class, if you'd like to join us…

It's not quite cold enough for frost here yet, but this evening's sunset made me think of this great old Flying Nun song and atmospheric video: Pink Frost.

I've been trying to use up some of my long-hoarded and most precious bits of fabric. I made a few new things for my etsy shop, including this cushion cover from the last piece of vintage barkcloth from this project. There are more additions to come, if I can keep up the momentum: at least, my worktable is crammed with half-made things.

And also, thinking about frost, have you seen this exquisite pattern: Imogen Tee, with a 'frost flowers' lace panel down the front? I would love to make it one day soon. I fear my knitting ambition will get the better of me…

We've had some wild (rainy) weather here in the capital over the past few days – what better time to settle down with a bit of knitting? (We are extremely lucky to be mostly unaffected, unlike some of my workmates and friends who don't live on the top of hills.)

Here are some more small knits: a gift for a sweet toddler: some little animals knitted from yarn oddments (read more about these here) and a child's Barley hat (free pattern here) made from more of Nikki's yarn.

I'm also making some winter hats for men in my life – the first being one from this pattern. It's quite fun to knit so far. 

The plants (early-winter freesias and gum leaves) were bought for the kitchen table from my favourite local shop, Next Stop Earth this morning. The best way to end the week.

Wishing you a happy weekend!

Keira and I spent a sunny Saturday morning making this gift for her friend who was turning 10. K chose the fabric (a mint-green upholstery print that had been on the shelf for a while, and some grey cotton corduroy) and did all the cutting and ironing. We made a satchel-style bag and matching coin purse.

The pattern is the 'messenger bag and pencil case' from my book - though we changed the dimensions a bit to suit the intended recipient. Keira thought it was funny that I was relying on the book a lot for instructions and measurements. 'Surely you know this stuff, Mama?' 

Here we have a couple of snaps taken in my sister's rambling rural garden during the summer. 

Thanks for the kind comments on my last post! I found another copy of the journal and so decided to send two packages. The winners were drawn randomly: Jennifer and Karen. Thank you for your interest.

– Have you been listening to Sufjan Stevens' Carrie and Lowell? It's very beautiful; devastating even. If you haven't yet checked it out, I recommend it.

– Lately in the evenings, I've been watching a bit of this. Mostly for the knitwear, other costumes and landscapes. Oh okay, and for the ridiculously good-looking people, too.

+ + Last weekend my friend Nicola came to stay, while she was in the city to run some workshops. She introduced me to the work of potter Paul Melser. His very beautiful dishes are used in a local cafe here, Loretta, so I'd eaten from them before. I couldn't resist buying a piece for our kitchen. I chose this earthy bowl, because it made me think of smooth pebbles and porridge.

+ + Watercoloured is a small journal produced by my brother-in-law who is an artist and writer. I was pleased to contribute to the latest edition, with an essay about Shaker 'gift drawings' (you can see some of the artworks I wrote about here.)

I have an extra copy of the journal – would you like it? I'll package it up with some extra bits and bobs of the paper variety, and send it anywhere in the world. Just leave a comment below and I'll draw a name on Monday.