tiny happy

(photos by Felicia Semple)

I'm excited to tell you that The Craft Sessions will be happening again this year, in September. And i'll be teaching two classes: 'Embroidery 101: Project Bag' (a new class), and 'Embroidery from the Natural World' (returning for its third year in a row!)

The Craft Sessions is a creative retreat set in Melbourne's Yarra Valley. It brings together people who love to make things, think about things, be creative. It's a very beautiful long weekend, and if you are at all interested, I encourage you to check it out.

This year, there are some new classes to choose from, including natural dyeing, hand-smocking, knitting lace and socks…. too many lovely things to mention, actually. You can see the full list of workshops here. 

It's getting cooler here which means knitting time. I'm here to tell you there's nothing nicer than sitting on the sofa watching this (or something similar) with glass of wine and knitting close by. Although you probably knew that already.

Here are a few small knits I've been working on lately. One Jane (ravelry link) hat in some pale rose-coloured Jo Sharp silk/alpaca yarn, in progress.

One ear-warmer because Wellington wind is crazy and I walk everywhere, so I'm hoping this will greatly improve my winter this year. It's a twisted rib stitch pattern, the same as that in the 'Jane' hat, knitted up in grey possum-merino. Only took one evening.

And lastly, a new winter hat for Arlo to wear on his walk to school (to match his school uniform, even!) For the pattern, I combined the Flat Hat (great free pattern from Tash at Holland Road) with this one by Tin Can Knits, knit in the round with beautiful Zealandia possum-merino.

Happy Easter weekend to you! Hope you find some time to drink wine, knit, do what you love.

Keira was given this wooden envelope template for her birthday. By me, that is. Umm yes, it's possible I bought my daughter a gift that I wanted to use myself. But in my defence, she had seen them in the shop a few times and asked me for one. 

Anyway, we've had some good times with it already. One afternoon we sat at the kitchen table with a big stack of papers (the envelopes shown here were made with some pages from an old gardening catalogue) and scissors, listening to our favourite songs and producing a small mountain of new envelopes for our letter-writing supply cupboard (Doesn't everyone have one of those?)

I bought the wooden template from our lovely local craft store Stitchbird though you can probably find them on Etsy too.

I did some sewing on the weekend, and tried out the Hemlock pattern by Grainline (you can download it here) to make two new tops.

I was first inspired by this post by Felicia. What a great pattern. It was originally designed for knits, but can also be made up in woven fabrics. I made one of each – the first from some striped jersey cotton that had been sitting around for a while. The result is a comfy t-shirt to wear with jeans.

Jen from Grainline suggests using 'tissue' knits, and I think I'll try these next. My knit fabric was quite sturdy, and I think it would be more fitted (erm, and stylish) in a lighter weight.

I also made one up in some woven fabric: a fine grey cotton with embroidered stripes in black and cream. I really like the dropped shoulders and 3/4 sleeves. I cropped the front hem and let the back fall a bit lower. Perfect for work.

If you feel like a simple, pleasing project (with a new garment as the end result) I highly recommend the Hemlock pattern. And, it's free! Thank you Grainline.

This is my latest finished project: new curtains for the sleep-out (spare room). I should say new/old curtains really, because I used some fairly old fabric to make them.

I'd been hoarding it for ages (since this post) but it was already old before I stashed it away (probably from the 1950s-60s, I'd say). When I pulled it out for sewing, I realised it had been cut up into an assortment of different strips and squares. So, the job turned into a bit of a patchwork project.

The reason why I was so keen to use this material is because it's printed with NZ flowers and plants: ferns, clematis, fuschia, kowhai, pohutukawa. And along the top of each panel, I found the names of the flowers written ever-so-carefully in ballpoint pen.

KOWHAI — KAKABEAK — CLEMATIS — HEBE.

:: Pre-washing some new fabrics bought last week. My idea is to make a couple of new things to wear to work. The striped fabric is silky grey, with embroidered cream and black patterns.

:: Nasturtiums are very much at home in our garden. 

:: Isn't this a beautiful-looking salad? I'm going to make it tomorrow night.

:: You can listen to Sufjan Steven's new album Carrie and Lowell, here at NPR First Listen. And read this interview with him, about his childhood, family, and thoughts behind these songs. The album itself comes out at the end of March.

These photos were taken this evening on a walk in the neighbourhood. I wanted to take some pictures of the kids but they were not into it.

However they did point out some things that would make good shots: 'look at that strange garage!' 'that must be at least 150 steps', 'what about those people eating dinner?' (umm, no) and then, when we were nearly home, 'Come on Mum, you've just got to take a picture of this cat. You've just got to!'

Some more treasures from inside this parcel: 

:: blue-skies garland which is now adorning the walls of Arlo's blue bedroom

:: a collection of vintage fabrics. I have plans for them already…

Wishing you a happy and relaxing weekend!

Just a little of what Helen tucked inside the parcel I wrote about yesterday…

A copy of Betty, a gorgeous, new (to me) magazine from London, and a collection of handmade zines as well as a copy of Bill Manhire's beautiful Under The Influence.

The zines include the hand-stamped BE HERE 
                                                                  OR HERE

by Sarah McNeil,
and Biblioburbia, by Vanessa Berry. You can see these publications resting on a beautiful hand-appliqued mat, also sent by Helen.

More tomorrow..!

It's properly autumnal here in Wellington; golden light lazily gazing through the window onto the kitchen table, soup on the stove, kids bringing home pocketfuls of acorns.

After school today, I made them some of this to drink for the first time since last winter. It's always nice to mark the seasons with special foods and drinks. We think so anyway.

A few days ago I received this beautiful box in the mail. Wrapped in brown paper, with collaged pictures on each side. Inside: a collection of treasures from my very generous friend Helen. I'll show you some things that were tucked inside in tomorrow's post.