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June, Moon, Tune, Loon, Spoon….

3 Jun

Sometimes I really hate having to come up with titles for these things.

It’s June.

In the southern hemisphere that means (I think) that we are at the start of winter – at least if I count backwards six months to the northern hemisphere equivalent, it should be the same as early December. I know the seasons are all messed-up-to-buggery at the moment, but my memories of December in the Pacific Northwest include icy weather, snow, skiing, christmas carols, sparkly lights and all that other good stuff.

The equivalent in New Zealand is pretty mild really. Few of our trees lose their leaves when it gets cold, so it’s still really green everywhere (with only the odd highlights of gold, smuggled in among the native evergreens). Plus May was apparently the warmest one on record, which meant in some ways our late-autumn was almost better than our summer. Things have been really stable. Big fat gaps between the isobars coming across from Australia. Wellington’s quite lovely when the wind dies down.

Evenings are getting cold though, which in many ways I’m enjoying. My knitting’s surged ahead again (socks, a shawl, with a short-sleeved t-shirt sort of sweater scheduled next, with some nice natural Utiku yarn), and it’s real soup and stew weather. (Mmmmm, soup and stewwwwws.)

Still doing game reviews; I’ve had a TON of them lately, including Fable 3, Sims 3 Generations, Brink, and a few other littlies. I think the mad rush has died down a bit – at least I’m hoping, as I’ve signed up for SoCNoC; effectively a southern hemisphere NaNoWriMo, in June. What’s nice is that it’s a little less restrictive than NaNoWriMo, in that it’s ‘allowed’ to work on multiple things at once, so the focus is more about the challenge of writing every day. So far I’m on track, but hey, it’s only day three. The first and last weeks are always the easiest.

Speaking of which – I’d better go mosey on over to that open Word document and get busy!

:::

Reading: A State of Siege, Janet Frame; St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, and Swamplandia! by Karen Russell

Reviewing: nothing at the moment!

Listening: Bill Evans, Conversations With Myself

Watching: Game of Thrones (woop!)

Quick hi

1 Jun

Just a quick hi. I’ve signed up for SoCNoC (or however you arrange the combination of upper and lower case) – the Southern Cross Novel Challenge, or NaNoWriMo Down Under. The whole premise of the thing is to give us kiwi writers something to do during the cold winter months (and man, is today cold!) as the weather is far too fine in November to lock ourselves away. Of course the argument falls down when one considers that most of us who do SoCNoC also do NaNoWriMo, but just ignore that bit.

I’m on reprieve from jury duty, which I was hoping I’d be able to write about in a little more gory detail. But alas, I wasn’t picked for the seat amongst the other eleven angry men, but I did get to see the inside of a courthouse, and the back of the head of a young guy who was being accused of receiving a stolen vehicle. Still, I have to ring the jury hotline every night this week to see if they need me to come in again (I’m tempted to write: come in, to be rejected again but I am a far more noble creature than that).

But yes, it is absolutely freezing outside. No actual frozen objects, mind you, and thankfully no rain (especially after all the flooding that’s been going on in the south island) but it’s cold enough to have the gas fire on already and I’ve made plans to move into the lounge to do the rudimentary planning for my SoCNoC novel. (I’d actually forgotten all about it and made the decision to sign up last night. I’m not worried – I’ve pulled off NaNoWriMo novels with less to go on in the past.)

I’ve also been reasonably busy spinning & knitting (and dyeing, and cleaning bits of a fleece), and have actually put some fibre up in my Etsy shop, after a hiatus of a few years. I’ve got plans to put more up soon, so keep an eye out. I’ve even got some more Polwarth and some dyes arriving at the house either today or tomorrow, so I can keep the momentum going. But no time for pictures, alas. I have to go check the mail and then get to planning. Usually I just scribble notes in a hideous pink notebook I’ve used for NaNoWriMos since 2007, but this time I’m going to try and use Scrivener, using the “structured story development” template. Scary, I know.

Anyway, will tune in again later. No doubt when I’m procrastinating.

Saturday

14 Feb

It’s Saturday, and I really can’t complain about that at all. Had a mad week, what with being sick, taking cats to and from the vet, pilling Soots, who now also has one less fang and an attitude problem, Pippi meanwhile won’t stop going crazy all round the house, plus we have Jeremy & Megumi staying, Steve had a huge bike crash during the week and I got the resulting grubby meaty wound to clean, and there’s been an abundance of political bullshit at work. Yup, it’s safe to say I am one very happy relaxed Jess now that it’s midday on Saturday.

I have already been up since quarter to seven, despite having a late night up reviewing a new game. I’ve done morning pages. I’ve worked on the novel. I’ve done chores! Now it’s just midday and I can’t believe how much I’ve got done in the last five hours. I should get up early more often (though to be honest there just isn’t the same ‘feel-good factor’ in getting up early during the working week. Just means I get to work earlier.)

I’ve been spinning lots, and knitting – just finished a pair of socks – which means I might actually do it the right way around this year, and have things completed FOR winter, instead of knitting during winter… in time for spring. Have another pair of socks planned, as well as a couple Rebecca sweater patterns. Fingers crossed I keep up the momentum.

I’ve also been reading quite a bit, though there’s been one casualty: The Little Friend, by Donna Tartt, which I loved at first, but then got the sneaking suspicion that nothing much was really happening. I looked it up on goodreads, and my god, I’ve never seen so much vitriol (OK, that’s an exaggeration, this is the internet after all). After that I sort of lost my enthusiasm for the book. I feel bad about it, but not so bad that I’m going to pick it up again in a hurry. In the meantime, I’ve picked up The Savage Detectives , by Roberto Bolaño, and Lonely Werewolf Girl , by Martin Millar (I got the book autographed from his website – the price was still a deal, compared to how much some websites were expecting me to pay here in NZ). Loving them both at the same time, equally, but in different ways. Oh yeah.

Savage Detectives reminds me a bit of Reinaldo Arenas’ Before Night Falls in tone – or maybe it’s that they both share the ‘lonely writer comes of age while having lots of sex amidst political upheaval’ theme. Werewolf Girl is not what I expected. I don’t know exactly what it was I was expecting, but it has a much more contemporary sort of feel to it (I’ve never read any Martin Millar before) and it’s a lot more disjointed and rough around the edges than I was expecting. I’m really really not saying that as a negative, in fact he somehow makes it all work to the book’s advantage. It’s still early days though;what I’m saying is merely based on early first impressions.

Anyway, am heading off now. Jeremy and Megumi have headed up the coast for the afternoon, and Steve will be back soon from his Karipoti training ride. If I want to get any more writing done I’ll need to move fast. Adios.

Crafty Update!

24 Sep

My secret pal present arrived today!

It could not have been better timing – I had a bit of a crappy weekend (bit hung over on Saturday, then pulled a muscle in my back digging in the garden on Sunday), and it’s been grey and raining all day… a package in the mail was just the medicine I needed to bust away those Monday blues. Secret Pal, wherever you are – thanks!

My lovely package included some gorgeous wool from Finland, that I’m sure will make some awesome socks:

IMG_3553

(I love the colours!)

Some HAND MADE stitch markers… and some Addi needles!

IMG_3551

Am I spoiled or what?

But wait, there’s more!

IMG_3554

see those gorgeous felt hearts? (in green!) Those were from SP too!
(the earless pig and turtle are products of my pottery class.)

Thank you so much, Secret Pal!

Oh, and in further crafty news, I finished that Rosa sweater and FINALLY took a picture of myself in it. I’m tired, it’s the end of a day at work (still in my work clothes) but you get the picture:
IMG_3546

Finally!

11 Sep

Finally I’m in Ravelry! So excited. My details are here: ravelry.com/people/herself. Now you can hop on, see my projects, look at my stash, etc. etc. and so forth and so on.

Work is slow and quiet at the moment. Warm day today. Went for a walk along the waterfront, as far as the far side of Te Papa. Before that, sat on the waterfront and had a bagel (reuben on pumpernickel, oo). Quite disappointed with the lack of progress made yesterday on essay, though I DID finish off the Rosa sweater I’ve been threatening to complete for the last year or so. Will have to sort out photos soon.

Anyway, must press on.

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oo, and

5 Sep
  • You signed up on June 28, 2007
  • You are #11505 on the list.
  • 448 people are ahead of you in line.
  • 19055 people are behind you in line.
  • 36% of the list has been invited so far

Ravelry, you WILL be mine soon!

Hey.

23 Aug

Just a little update today. Added a couple of things to my ever-growing projects list, and aside from that have been busy with work! I’m going up to uni this afternoon to discuss my research essay, which I’m happy to report is now up to 2,500 words – in other words, 25% is done! Just saying that is such a relief. After that I think I might walk home… it’s just half an hour’s walk from uni, and it’s such a gorgeous day out there.

Ooh, and Brent lent me his copy of The Princess Bride on DVD (I only have a crappy VHS taped-off-TV version with ads), which I think I shall watch tonight over my Rosa that I’m knitting:

Rosa

(In green, not pink!)

A little silk problem…

22 Aug

Y’see, Steve and I were wandering around Sapa last October when my feet stopped right outside this place where all the women were gathered around. I poked my nose in, mostly surprised that they were more interested in what was inside, than us gringos with US dollars to spend. It was the most amazing store, most mind boggling due to the copious amounts of silk inside, that all the women were buying to use for their embroidery to sell. I caved, and bought 400g. I think all up it cost me 8 dollars.

Anyway, fast-forward to nearly a year later. I’ve still got all this silk – all eight gorgeous hanks of it:

IMG_3514

…it’s really a problem…

IMG_3517

Kidding!

Anyway, I really need something to do with it. Lace, I suppose. But should I try to dye it first? And what would be a good pattern to highlight its roughness (which I love)?

I’ve been thinking about it for ages, and I just don’t know.

droooool!

22 Aug

Just ordered some yarn from englishyarns.co.uk:

736-RowanspunDK 736 Goblin
747-RowanspunDK 747 Catkin
015-harrisDK 015 – Apple

drooool!

(the RowanspunDK was on special, cos it’s been discontinued…)

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Oh man

21 Aug

I really want to make this.

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Ravelry

21 Aug

Found you!

  • You signed up on June 28, 2007
  • You are #11505 on the list.
  • 2017 people are ahead of you in line.
  • 15477 people are behind you in line.
  • 34% of the list has been invited so far

SP 11 Questionnaire

8 Aug

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I can’t think of anything really that I don’t like; I tend to knit with wool, but that’s usually because I guess it makes sense to knit hats, mittens, scarves, etc. from something warm, rather than acrylic. I haven’t knitted much with silks or any other ‘luxury’ yarns, mostly because of the cost to buy (and my LYS really only stocks the basics).

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have a needle case that I sewed myself, out of the Stitch and Bitch book, and recently bought a case for my circulars. I’m all ‘cased up’!

3.
How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you
consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I’ve been knitting since I was young; knitted my first sweater in high school, and over the years just knitted the odd scarf and the like. I really got into knitting about three years ago, and spinning about a year and a half ago. I’d say I’m an advanced knitter, in that I can follow any pattern and not have problems with it. I haven’t designed anything myself aside from hats (but do they count?).

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes, though it’s bordering on the ridiculous now:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/2AZBC26D1FVSK/

5. What’s your favorite scent? I like Lolita Lempika, which my sister got me a few years ago. I also like the new DKNY apple perfumes. I like apple :-)

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I love sour candy! Sour, fizzy, you name it!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I love spinning, and do a little bit of sewing (though only the really easy stuff). I’m taking a pottery class, love to cook and garden, make lip balms, and if I’m really organised, making hand bound books.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Yep, I can play mp3s! I love music of all kinds, though I really can’t stand anything like soft pop. I’m into jazz, indie, rock, some metal. Not a huge rap fan, though I like a few different hip-hop artists. My favorite bands include Pavement, Belle & Sebastian, Air, Pixies, The Ramones, the Cure and the Clash. I love Thelonius Monk.

9. What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand? Green’s definitely my favorite color. I can’t think of any colors I really can’t stand, though I think I prefer bolder colors over pastels. (Actually, I really don’t like lilac.)

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I live with my boyfriend Steve, and my black cat named Sooty. (I didn’t name him, it was the name he came with when I got him from the cats protection league.) I also have a tank of tropical fish (mostly guppies and catfish). My parents live in Taupo, in the North Island, and my sister lives in Somerset in the UK.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yup! I haven’t made my mind up on ponchos; I’m not sure if they’re sillily trendy or a fantastic idea.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Well, hats are nice and quick, as are hand warmers. They make nice presents! For myself, I usually make socks or sweaters (probably because I have enough hats).

13. What are you knitting right now? I just finished knitting an Elizabeth Zimmerman watch cap for my
boyfriend’s father, and am working on the “Sartje’s booties” for my
friend’s new baby.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I like the feel of straight needles, but the ease of circulars. (I don’t really have that many circs though.) I have a mix of needles; initially I liked bamboo the most but have found they can split and snag the yarn a little too easily. I have one set of rosewood needles that are wonderful to knit with (though they’ve got a bit of a bend in them). Aluminium are good once they warm up in your hands… basically, if they’re cute and/or colourful, I don’t mind what they’re made of!

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I have a manual ball-winder, but no swift!

17. How old is your oldest UFO? Uh, a year? I also have a red mohair sweater I knitted and completed but now have to frog as it’s just too hot to wear! One of these days I’ll get to it…

18. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween! Pity it doesn’t really get celebrated in New Zealand…

19. Is there anything that you collect? Fountain pens, blank notebooks, cute stationery.

20.
Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get
your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I don’t have a subscription to any knitting mags but have on occasion bought Interweave Knits, Rowan magazine & Rebecca (GHH). I’ve never tried Addi circulars – I’d like to see what the fuss is all about! I am also keen to read “Handspun Revolution” by Alexis Boeger. Yarns? Anything cool and colourful, and at least enough to knit a pair of socks with :-)

21. Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn? Never learned how to knit fair isle. While I’m at it, I’d love to learn how to knit with both hands!

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes I am! Let me get back to you with measurements, I’m at work…

23. When is your birthday? December 22 (Sagittarius/Capricorn cusp…)

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what’s your ID? I’m on the waiting list!

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Interweave hurt sale

11 Jul

So I only heard about the Interweave Hurt sale when I came into work this morning, and being all out of whack compared to US time, I think I missed out on at least a half day’s worth of frenzied purchasing. There were actually a few books left, so I was able to score:

In addition to all of that, the last of my Amazon order arrived yesterday:

These are so brilliant. The Ball book has over 400 recipes, everything from strawberry jam to pickles, chili sauces, juices, and some really inspired combinations (raspberry and chipotle – if my memory hasn’t weirdly distorted that one). The huge garden and the glasshouse were two of the things that made me fall in love with our new place, so of course I’m dying to plant as many veggies as I can this summer, and hopefully there will be a lot of preserving as a result as well. The Favorite Mittens book is one I’ve had my eye on for a while now, and includes some awesome traditional (US east coast, and Canada) mitten patterns, for everything from thrummed mittens, to fishermen’s wet mittens, which are shrunk so the stitches get so tight that nothing can get through them.

foul

10 Jul

I’m already in a bit of a foul mood after getting some bitchy email from this woman at work, wondering why a report went out half a day later than when it was finished (even though I sent it out four days before it was due). I took the bait and sent back an equally snarky email. Aargh. Hate work.

Have been trying to update my blogroll and links (have been trying to get rid of the waffly and meaningless “personal” category, so you might notice a few more have appeared, namely “booze”, “cooking”, “daydreaming”, “food”, “OMG News!”, “pets”, “swimming” and “travel”). I’m also acutely aware that most of the blogs I like are riddled with photos, but the unfortunate reality of my blogging habit is that most of it is done from work, where I can’t really spend a lot of time playing around with pictures. I’ll try and make a bit more of a concerted effort to do some photo blogging on the weekends (and also finish that damn Vietnam section).

We’re due to go to the bank this afternoon to finalise the mortgage, but Steve’s solicitor can’t get through to their Public Trust people to agree on a settlement date. I’m not sure if that’s going to hold things up, but I hope not…we’re hoping we’ll be able to take ownership by this Friday (and go run around the place on the weekend, hehe).

Oh, and last night Daph and I went to the Craftwerk knitting night at the Southern Cross. It was lots of fun! The weather was cold and miserable, black and rainy, and we all sat in on the couches near the fire, knitting (some crocheting) and drinking cider, then hot chocolates with rum. ‘Twas lovely.

Some new dramas

6 Jul

So last night I was working on “Hike” and realised that the arm was starting to look a bit long. Many people would have put their faith in the pattern and continued onwards before doing anything rash, but I have had so many problems with this pattern so far that I had to take evasive action and sort it out.

Just going back a few years (!), I started working on this pattern in 2005, when I ordered the very lovely Pakucho organic cotton (in Avocado) from Elann. They were having a special, offering the yarn for something like $2.90 a skein. I ordered what seemed like plenty, and when it arrived, swatched and confidently set forward on my new knitting adventure. About halfway up the back, I grew doubtful about the size of the expanding blob, checked it against the pattern, and wound up frogging the whole thing and starting again, in a smaller size and with smaller needles! Radical, I know. Anyway, I got up to completing the back and one side of the front (it’s a zip-up cardigan), then obviously got carried away with something else and put it aside.

I finally picked it up again last week. Completed the other front half and started on the sleeve. So when I found that the sleeve was getting tremendously long, I had to nip it in the bud and go back a few centimetres before I started the decreasing. Now I think the arm length is right (as is the width), but now I fear I’m nearly out of yarn. Guess who didn’t order enough at the time? (what a nightmare)

I hopped back on Elann, but of course they don’t sell Pakucho organic cotton any more. Very few people do! They’ve got a website and all, but this seems to be more interested in selling cotton tshirts than yarn, even though the yarn got great reviews when it first came out. I found one shop selling it, got through the ordering process, only to find that they only shipped to the US and Canada. I finally found someone who ships overseas (a store with the bizarre name of ‘Chez Casuelle‘), only to find that they are stocking something called “Green Avocado”. I want Avocado. Is Green Avocado the same thing?

I’m getting desperate here. I order the Green Avocado (plus some Cherry Tree Hill Supersock merino to make the most of the $20 shipping I’ll have to pay to get these things to New Zealand) and hope for the best.  If worse comes to worse, I’ll frog the damn thing and make hundreds of knitted washcloths for everyone for Christmas.

(Oh, and we’re meant to hear back today about whether our tender was successful for the house. I am so freaking nervous! )

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