The holidays are at an end, sadly its back to the grind

Well the last week of my holidays is almost over. I've done absolutely zero tafe work (d'oh) and am not really inclined to do any over this coming weekend. Thats probably bad (okay okay so its definitely bad) but I'm failing to care at the moment.

This last week has been pretty full on and I have a lot to blog so please bear with me.

I found out (quite by accident) on Monday that my father died on the 26th of March. I'm not really upset about it as my parents broke up when I was four so I didn't really know him...so for all of you aching to tell me how sorry you are for my loss, its ok, it was really not that much of a loss to me. I know it sounds harsh that I'm not saddened by my fathers death but please remember I didnt know him growing up so he wasnt really a 'father' to me, he was just the sperm donor really (yeh I know, that sounds heartless too, but what can ya do?). I WAS affected by it, but I was more shocked than anything else. I guess no one is prepared for the death of a parent. I do feel sorry for his spouse though, she is a lovely lady (see? I am capable of SOME compassion ;oP). I did the right thing and rang my mother to see how she was coping. Now THAT was painful...talking to my mother is always a mission...ugh.

Anyhoo...onto the fun stuff :oD

Last week I dyed some optim a super light sky blue and spun it up to ply with some awesomely soft super angorino that I got from the talented Charly at Ixchelbunny. I plied the two together and came up with the most incredible yarn. Its such an uplifting colour...the whole time I was plying it I kept thinking about the few times I've laid in the grass gazing up at the sky on a spring day, day dreaming about nothing in particular and having happy thoughts so I called it 'sky dreaming'. I think that no matter what this ends up being, it will be something I wear to lift my spirits.

hand dyed optim fibre



as singles



awesome super angorino
~unending afterthought~



as singles...a LOT of singles



1 skein of 'sky dreaming'
total - 3 skeins (240g - 685m - 15 WPI)



see? isnt it a happy colour?
go on, try to look at it and
NOT feel kind of good inside
tee hee

I purchased some undyed superwash merino from the fabulous Mandie over at Ewe Give Me the Knits so I had fun dyeing fibre on Tuesday and Wednesday. The first lot I did in the oven using a shallow baking pan to see how it would turn out. I've even had a chance to spin it up; it's incredibly ugly and I love it! I'm calling it 'bad acid flashback'. Here's a pic or two.

as fibre it looked pretty cool



~bad acid flashback~
100g - 216m - 12 WPI



It looks kind of like your great grans wallpaper but its
still very cool, super smooshy and full of yarny goodness.
I'm thinking beanie or mebee scarf.

The second batch I did in a dyebath on top of the stove and its turned out really pretty. I haven't named it or spun it yet but I'm sure I'll get around to both fairly soon. Here 'tis...

100g of soft, muted stormy colours

I finally got a chance to spin up some of my EGMTK fibre club fibre on Wednesday as well. It's turned out awesomely soft and very pretty.

~mirage~
merino/milk blend
118g - 320m - 14 WPI

I've been working on a lace cowl to keep my neck warm this coming winter and its about a third finished now. It's made from my handspun 'winter solstice' so its half merino and half silk. Luxuriously soft and the yarn is knitting up very prettily. I'm knitting it in the round so its kind of hard to get a good photo just yet but here are a couple anyways.

I cant wait to wear this during the upcoming cold months



close up so you can see the purdy

It's just starting to get cold at the moment as we're heading into winter and I dont own any slippers. A friend of mine was telling me about her crocheted slipper socks that she reinforces by adding a crocheted sole to help them last longer. I have all this awesome wool laying about and I figured I'd give it a go. Cant wait to finish these so my footsies can be toasty :oD

Super soft slipper sock I'm knitting from
two strands of thick wool held together.



I crocheted the sole from kitchen twine

I have been quite naughty (who me? noooooo) and put a gorgeous (and expensive) antique Royal Albert tea trio on laybuy at the local antique store. Its called 'Old Country Roses' and I paid $55 AU for the set. I'm hoping to pick it up next week so I should have a photo or two of it soon. I'm very happy to be adding to my collection; thats two tea trios now...that counts as a collection doesnt it? lol.

This last week I've also had a chance to catch up with some people I havent seen in waaaaaaaay too long. Big shout outs and thanks to the awesome Mz Natalickit for a lovely morning chatting and drinking caffiene in her new digs. Thanks also to Misha Militia for having fun days with fibre at my place and thanks to Kelly for coming by to keep me company.

To any of my awesome friends that I havent had a chance to catch up with these holidays; I'm sorry I havent seen you, I miss you, and I hopefully will get a chance to see you soon.