Yarn, Yarn, Yarn, Yarn

Lots of Yarny Goodness
Some Patonyle...well lots (This is only a sample).
White, Fair Isle, Green and Cream (with some black to come)

DK Merino from The Knittery in Sea Breeze for My SIL
A Cardigan is what we are planning so she gets to pick the pattern now.









And last but not least some PURPLE (yes PURPLE) DK Silk Merino to make myself a cardigan...yummmmmmmy colour. Yummmy yarn.

Daphne @ the Knittery rocks.

Off to roll around in the yarn now and do some knitting.

One Week

It's been one week since.....With the lyrics of The Bare Naked Ladies song "One Week" bouncing around in my head I get to post about my latest FO!

I have managed to complete a new ballet wrap for O in One Week! With the change in dance school and a new uniform (Note: We just wore black and uniforms were not really a consideration!) and another year of growth it was time for a new wrap!

This knitted up so quick I can't believe it nor can the extended family.

Whilst I did get a lot of knitting done this has managed to fly off the needles and onto her.

Is it gloating to be so pleased with an end result?

The pattern is one I have completed before from the Australian Creative Knitting Magazine. It's simple and effective wtih Moss Stitch (Seed Stitch for the Americans!) edging and ties. The colour is Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic Cranberry in 8ply. And looks pretty true to colour in the photo.

Now back to Bag Swap Rescue (Adventures will be published later) and socks, socks, socks.

Time to finish some more.

Sorry Day - Well the Morning So Far

Earlier this week I signed up to the Change Your Status to "is Sorry" campaign on facebook.
Essentially, regardless of the intention, the policy of our previous governments supported by the people of Australia (whether directly or through apathetic compliance) was wrong.

It's an acknowledgement of what was done and the devastating effects it has had, and continues to have on the families involved.

Today watching the apology from Kevin Rudd, and the presence of the past leaders (With one notable exception) was humbling and very emotional. I only hope that everyone can undertand that as Australians we have this burden to carry and to lighten for the nation. I am glad that I got to experience this with my MIL & O.

I hope that the next steps are strong and true and in the right direction and that political games will give way to strong positive and collaborative action.

End of Message.

Lots done this week - shhh can't show any of it.

So this week was mainly a work work work kind of thing.

Last weekend I worked all weekend (including middle of the night phone calls).

This week I spent a lot of time putting a paper together with some colleagues that perhaps hasn't been as well supported as I would like - but thems the breaks as another colleague said.

The week was nicely capped by my work laptop ceasing to co-operate and presenting me with a Blue Screen of Death. Time to pack it in.

I do have my new Rockin' Sock Club 2008 yarn but yet to start on it. Picture to come.

Knitting work has been concentrated on one of the bag projects whilst alternating between catching up on Season 3 of Grey's and watching the West Wing Season 1 (Dh won't watch Grey's with me!).

Is it for the Bag Swap?...Could be!

Cute Baby Stuff - Ok The Set is done.

It looks so cute!

I am very glad it is done.

The mittens are verycute and they look gorgeous together.

On to the socks and other items I have yet to complete.

Finished Objects at last!

Stripy Hats and Socks with mittens to come..this shot is a little muted.

With 2 colleagues leaving on Maternity leave in a week I had to put a few things together.

These look fantastic. Interestingly enough the Patons dreamtime has very different construction between the colours..the lightblue (which is definitely the 4ply) is much thinner.

I am also going great guns on the Alternating rib socks and feel like I am just getting on and getting it done.

I did take some advice and have been watching dvd's I got a hold of Season 3 of Greys not as fast paced as West Wing but good viewing.

And another project cast on...stripy socks

And so I cast on yet another project some baby booties/socks.

They are cute and easy to make (except for the weaving in of the ends).

I also need to make a hat.

They look great in the 2 blues and yellows.

And here we have some of the sweater sampler last weeks excercise in a little procrastination.

All I have to ask is start-i-tis a real disease...cause if so I got a near fatal dose.

Too Much to Do (And Not Enough Time)

I officially have too many projects on the go.
I have started many projects but finished very few so far.

7 pairs of socks on the go 1 each of 2 pairs complete, 3 in progress 1 to start to complete a pair.
I have managed to start and finish the sweater sampler over the long-weekend.

I have started 3 (Count 'em 3) bags to confuse the bag-swap participants...and for my own insanity. I also have a cotton top and a cardigan on the go.

Where does that leave me - playing Playstation Lego Star Wars (The Original Series) as the TV is awful..and I usually knit in front of the TV.

I must just decide to finish a few....but I can't seem to settle.
Maybe February will bring some sanity.

Tolerance and Expectations

Recent events have bought to the fore again my slack-jawed incomprehension of other peoples lack of tolerance and amazing ability to set expectations (sometimes very unrealistic expectations) of others without ever letting them know.

I am a well-educated person with quite a few years now managing people. The one message I have truly understood (after a few mistakes) is you can't have an expectation of someone else if they don't know about it and agree to it. Communication is key to any relationship - in person, online, work or personal.

Ok, I know society has a basic set of expectations (governed by law and rules in most societal groups).

What has set me off today is people participating willingly in an online community open to all and then either having an issue because others are not behaving to their expectations OR more bizarely thinking that they are not behaving, living up to an expectation they believe the group has of them (completely unstated).

Negotiation and Communication are basic skills that fewer people seem to have. Tolerance is a quality I was educated into and I am very proud of that trait. Don't get me wrong I am not perfect and have my own issues with individuals and groups alike...but it saddens me to see people cutting themselves off to opportunities and experiences due to prejudice and beliefs.

My learning for today - An individual benefits from a community by participating and adding and recieving value that is relevant to the individual, but the individual has to see it that way.

Anyway enough philosophising...back to the knitting.

Space - To Sit, Knit and Spin.

DH has been in reorganisation mode in our week off.

He has started with the lounge and study and has moved one of the Wing Back chairs in with a lamp overhead and the

speakers returned to the computer it will be an extra refuge for me and him when we need to get away somewhere. It looks fab.

He has used the space created in the lounge room to put the guitar and spinning wheel out..they look quite beautiful together.

With the Roll of Art Paper and the CD's behind it maes a quite attractive nook.

I love nooks and crannys for sitting, knitting, spinning, playing and dreaming.