Knitter's block

Is there a knitting equivalent of writer's block? I think I have it. I just can't get started - nor can I pick up any of my many UFOs. What's going on? I think my experience with scary lace has toyed with my knitting mojo. I WANT to knit. I just don't know what to pick up. Maybe when my package of (ahem) new knitpicks needles arrives, I'll take it up again.

In the meantime, other activities took precedence:

some volunteer mulch-shovelling and pruning at Googong...

much profitable time in my own garden...

Sunday morning with some beautiful girls: Daughter2 and the ever adorable, and slightly dribbly, ma minette...

And Sunday evening in the twilight...

Not too bad for a non-knitting weekend.

I don't like Monda-ays, I don't like Monda-ays...

Sing along with me. Mondays are the first day of the working week. Four long days till the weekend. I don't usually like Mondays - who does?

But today was different. Oh, yes, same old panics at work, same old too-busy-to-leave-my-desk-for-lunch, let alone go to the gym. But it was a nice sunny evening as I drove home, and I was looking forward to mucking out Henny Penny's yard when I got home. (Well, I can pretend I'm a farmer, can't I?)

But what was this package in my letterbox? Who doesn't love getting packages? Especially unexpected ones from previously unknown persons. The Lovely Leah had sent me an apron. You see, I'm trying out this swap business, and it can really be fun. Lucy hosts the Sassy Apron Swap, based on northern hemisphere seasons. That's OK. I sent off my Autumn apron to my assigned apron lover, but this time, I didn't receive anything. Maybe she was just too busy. So Lucy put out a call for others to fill in the gaps. And, lucky me, I got Leah. My apron has lovely autumn hues, and is lined with little blue Henny Pennies. Also a lovely knitted potholder was in the package too. Thank you Leah. Pity the other item of mail today was a speeding fine. Don't even care. Love my present.

On planning

Certain people in my family are great forward-thinkers. Mum would always have her xmas shopping done by now, and my favourite sister spends all year making lovely hand-made gifts for us all - and in time to send to us from across the Ocean. Me, I usually wait till it gets really hot, and it's only then that I think it's time to start xmas shopping. Well, maybe this year it will be different. It has in fact been warm and sunny this weekend, and I have convinced myself to not wait until December to start planning for xmas gifts.

Now, I love giving. I love the thrill of finding something just right. And this year I have decided to try to do it all hand-made. Not by me, mind you. There is such a wealth of talent around, that I am confident that I can buy all hand-made and as local as possible. I've been having a bit of a browse on etsy and finding some wonderful local talent. Today I went to the Bus Depot Markets to see what else I could find. I met the gorgeous Amy from Moyou and we had a quick chat about the delights of hand-made items. I might have bought one or two items from her. I might have to go back and buy one or two more.

Now, because it's xmas shopping, and because certain people read this blog, I can only give a little peak at some of the goodies I bought from a few local craftspeople who trade at the markets.
I'm having fun already. Anyone like to share their favourite source of lovely hand-made gifts?

Want a light read?

This entertaining piece of light fiction is doing the rounds of knitters in my part of the world. I'm now ready to send it on to another knitter who would like to read it and is also happy to track its destiny via Bookcrossing. I'm happy to send it anywhere. So leave me a comment, and I'll send it off to the first one in.

Oh, and by the way... lace....grrr.

Lace. Dare I?

Those tangly bits are my first attempts at a lace project. Bells is pseudo hosting a pseudo knitalong, the Long Lacy Summer and, although my self-imposed knitting challenges usually amount to naught, this time I'm going to try, try, and try again. I've frogged this only four times already. I can't really say what it's going to be, because it may yet not eventuate. The raw materials are Fibreworks 3ply Angora colour #7 and size 2.5mm sticks (I need pointier ones, I think. This knitting is so tiny.)

Vintage sheets

Aren't they gorgeous? They are vintage sheet fat quarters. The lovely Anne over at pinsandthimbles hosted a recent swap and this is the package of goodies that I received. I have to say, it was a bit difficult ripping up some of my own favourite vintage sheets and pillowcases to send off for the swap (Go check Anne's blog. My offering is the one tied up with blue ribbon.) But I reckon I did pretty well in return, don't you? Now... what to do with these lovelies...

Not much knitting

But a lovely, long, long birthday weekend with two lovely ladies, Daughter1 and Daughter2. Much eating, drinking and spa-ing was done in sunny and warm BrisVegas. No time to knit.