Craftisms

Craftisms = the results of my crafting endeavours!

I had a brillant time at the Cross St Carnival - loved all the stuff and creators at Craftwerk. Such talented things - knitted tampon brooches, polymer clay cupcake earrings, cross-stitched skull & cross bone art. I was next this this gorgeous woman who makes cupcakes all day long! I sold some of my knitted handbags, scarves & brooches from last year, and made up some hot lace purses (which didn't sell well!), felted fridge magnets and some moreporks - made from vintage woollen blankets and filled with sand. I only made 8 and really didn't want to part with them on the day! I originally tried to make koru door stops but that didn't work so I tried fish shapes - but that seemed pretty stupid with wool! So the family of moody moreporks came along and sold out quickly.AND THEN...miracles happened. A lovely canadian called "Emily" turned up at the stall and we gossiped about all things knitting and got on to the fact she was carrying a large stash around with her which was becoming a bit of a burden. WELL 4 hours later she turned up with a big BIG bag of yarn for me!! I was blown away - are people really that nice or is it just canadians (I mean they do make maple syrup after all)? She totally made my day and I was ready to pack up my stall then and there I was so chuffed. Here's is some of the gorgeous yarn she gave me - plenty for adult types of projects so EMILY - thank you and keeping a lookout for my first big girls project!

Beautiful red/orange spun silk...scarve for moi?

Yellow kidmohair ... shrug/short cardi for moi?

Soft red silk/mohair ... little vestie...for moi?
NZ roving from Nova Scotia to be spun ... new craft to learn?

It was a total yarn-obsessed weekend really. Knit Rangers was brillant with so many people joining in. Catherynne won paitience award of the day for teaching me how to crochet granny squares - I need to fix the old blanket (see first picture) I massacred as a teenager by cutting "rosettes" out for my horse!

Summer Rocks!

:) yes, yes, yes summer is brillant this year. I've been in Auckland on and off for the last 10 years and this is by far the best summer weather ever. Sun, sun and more sun everyday (except for 3 days a few weeks back where it just bucketed down). Actually it's so hot and humid now that we're now pining for the cooler weather and quite frankly I've had enough Boysenberry Trumpets to last a lifetime on my hips. Here's a picture of Ta'Aroa (Capt M's boat) at Whangaparapara Harbour on Great Barrier Island after New Years.

And here's one of Bandit the Dog watching a tangelo sunset off the top of the Coromandel Penisula (after New Years).

I've finished the blue tank for JoeJoe and have done some stetches for the robot which will be stitched on the front in red. But it's all going on hold because I managed to get a stall at Craftwerk's Cross St Carnival so will be madly sewing & felting for the next 10 days! I have nearly finished the felted fridge magnets, started the HOT lace coin purses last night, have designed my BIG BOLD stall layout and am going to find vintage wool blankets for the cushion covers today.

And here is the 90% finished tank for Sophie. Unfortunately I didn't make my deadline of Waitangi Day but she didn't seem to mind too much (unless that funny smell was her way of poo-pooing my present-less visit!). I'ved knitted skinnier stripes on the front for something different. This photo is a bit old now as I just have the neck and arm bands to do. I think I might put some pretty flowers on the front too. Maybe learn a bit of crocheting off the girls at Knit Rangers!

Have a lovely weekend! I will be madly crafting for the carnival but might sneak in the Kumeu Wine and Food Fest AND maybe even be a foolish girlfriend and accompany CH to the "DRAGS". And yes thats cars he wants to see, not men in women's clothing.....