The REAL reason my washing isn't folded...

I'm delighted to introduce our little girl, Nina May.  Born on 31 March - three weeks and three days ago - she has completely turned our lives upside down.  Not that I'm complaining:  she's just the sweetest thing.  Especially when she's asleep (ha).

The world looks different from this vantage point (upside down!) but through the haze of sleep deprivation, and the deep fear of what will happen when our well-stocked freezer supplies dwindle, I can see that life will go on and the itch to create will continue to itch.  I'm looking forward to it.

More colour

Resolutions

I received an email from my yoga teacher a few days ago entitled "Why you don't need to make a New Year's resolution".  The email contained plenty of good advice, but ultimately I don't agree:  I love resolutions.  I love the fact that the changeover from one calendar year to the next prompts people to reflect, reconsider, resolve.  I believe if they're made in the right - i.e. long term - spirit, resolutions can be beautiful things.

This year I've made two resolutions which I'm excited about:

1.  More colour.

2.  Find a place for everything, and put everything in its place.

Our house is white inside.  Partly that's because the last owners renovated and made it that way, but three years later, it's also because Kent and I have been too scared or too lazy to commit to a colour scheme.  This year I'm saying "scheme schmeme":  time to be colourful.  I've already also chosen some yarns that are outside my usual comfort zone, so I'm going to push the 'more colour' resolution into my (predominantly black) wardrobe as well.  We'll see how it turns out.

Secondly, I've had a gradual realisation that part of the problem with mess and clutter in our house is that there's not a place for everything.  All that is about to change.  Watch this space!

Of course, solutions which satisfy both goals at once are particularly welcome, even if they ARE a cheap piece of junk from Officeworks.

Hermione hats

This little grey watch cap (seems to be the international translation of 'beanie') is my favourite thing I have knitted so far.  It's Hermione's hat from one of the Harry Potter movies, as worked up by Christy Aylesworth (the pattern available for free here). 

I went to the trouble of tracking down the recommended yarn, The Fibre Company's Road to China Light, and I'm so glad I did:  it's by far the softest thing I've knit with.  'Grey pearl' was also a particularly beautiful warm grey, with hints of other, brighter colours.  I know a project is successful when I get a sudden selfish urge not to give it away...!  That happened with this one.

Less so with a second Hermione hat I made this month, a red cable and bobble beanie.  I don't really like cables, as it turns out - they're okay if widely spaced, but this hat (cabling every second row) just about drove me nuts.  So I was quite glad to see the back of it... 

I should point out that I'm not particularly a fan of the Harry Potter movies (in my humble opinion, the books were far better, as they usually are) - but the two recipients are, and were suitably chuffed to have Hermione hats of their own.

When I'm painting, I see everything as if I were going to sketch it - now that I've got a regular knitting habit, I have to say I see knits everywhere.  And as far as knit stylin' goes, Hermione's okay.

Alive and knitting

I've had so much inspiration and energy lately, but have been slightly derailed by end of semester assessment (who do these "universities" think they are?!) from putting all my plans into action.  The end of semester is finally coming into sight, however...  only three assignments left.

Last week I was able to deliver new hats to two friends, both good fits, and good matches.  A couple of weeks ago I also went to a sewing class and learned how to make a cushion cover.  I absolutely love the fabric and the finished product (there's nothing quite like impressing yourself) so I need to take some photos of that as well.

I know these are all skills which many millions of women have, but it doesn't stop me from feeling proud and happy that I can make things as well.  I feel peaceful and pleased when I sit and make something in the evening.  I've always loved choosing and giving gifts to people, and somehow it's more meaningful this way.  Sewing is just so much FASTER than knitting that I can see it could become addictive.  And there are way more enticing fabrics available now than the last time I looked (>10 years ago?).

The only downside being...I don't actually know how to sew.  But I'm working on it!