The Lucky Dip Swap

I recently took part in a Lucky Dip Swap. It was during my weekend away (which was fab, and it won't be the last one seeing as we all had a great time)

We weren't quite sure how this was going to go, but we decided to each dye yarn (there was a separate 4 ply and an 8/10ply swap) in a colourway we liked, wrap it so that people knew the colour so that everyone could select a package they'd like.

Here's the colour I dyed - it's 10ply with the base as Chuckanut Bay Yarns which is soft and squishy

Also pictured are just a fat quarter I bought to match it to wrap it in and some stitch markers I had made. I did pop in some other goodies - promise!

It's funny, because I ended up receiving the swap package from the person who received mine!

Here is a pic of the yarn

This is dyed on a base of 8ply Utiku in lovely dark peacocky tones, I think it will be perfect to knit the boy something.

I also received a tin of green tea bags, a fabulous mug that I love, a block of fancy chocie and a healthy eating mag (which is just what I needed after the weekend of lazing around with friends and knitting and eating)

Charlie Brown

My friend Ali had to say goodbye suddenly to a cherised family pet just before Christmas - Charlie Brown. A beautiful Chocolate Burmese.

At the same time, I was going to make her a dishcloth for a dishcloth swap I was taking part in. Now, me being a geek, I already had a dishcloth all knit and ready to be rehomed but when I heard I thought maybe I'd put together a few other items

So, my 'Latte' dishcloth was knit - this is made from 70% bamboo and 30% cotton - soooo soft using this pattern.

I also included 150gms of yarn I had hand-dyed in what I hope are chocolate burmese colours. I called the colourway 'Charlie Brown'

I originally intended to also knit one of these...but in the end ran out of steam so was going to include the pattern (which I also remembered I'd left out on my way to give it to Ali)

Need Photos?

It's so exciting when friends launch their own WAH (work at home) businesses.

A teaching buddy of mine Rachael has just launched her new photography business - check it out here, she's amazing.

I'm so excited about it too because not only does she take fabulous photos, but she approached me about knitting some hats for a newborn-infant photo shoot she is doing early in 2010. And as I don't have the permissions/licenses to knit all the hats she'd like, she's part-paying me with a photo shoot for my family.

How exciting is that! So watch this space to
a) see the photos of the finished hats - some of which are new ones that will be added to my custom knitting list
b) see the family/kids shots courtesy of Rach
and c) find out how I'm going to lose 20kgs (yeah right!) before I get my photo taken

All the best for your venture Rach!

A Couple of F.O's

So, I know that I've popped up a couple of pics of some of these recently, but here are their final pics, with buttons and all :)

Here is the Spring Butterfly pictured with the Daisy Clutch below

Then, there's the Amy, fully blocked and dried and buttons added

And, I whipped up these Itti Bitti Britches the other day to go with a swap present for my friend Jo. They are just the cutest too! In fact, if anyone was wanting a pair of these whipped up as a Chrissy decoration or keyring, then they're completely do-able too as the lovely Carina Spencer allows people to make and sell them if they wish. These were knitted from my 'To Catch a Pheasant' yarn, and softly hand felted after knitting.

The chocolate bar was sent as well, but is here just as a size comparison

Wee Daisy Clutches Available

Fancy Collecting Some Daisies?

This looks like just the right situation for a wee Daisy Clutch!

It's a lovely wee felted bag - inspired by Amanda's Around About. I've been in discussion with Amanda and will be selling these wee beauties!

It's something I whipped up this week - it's actually not for Penny but she loved trying it out (I wanted to check how functional it was. It passed the test). It was great in that while she was using it, it sat flat on the ground (super blocking on my part if I do say so myself), and the two handles opened up nicely. Then on returning inside with her flowery stash it was easy for her to hold and carry - nice and light. I wouldn't suggest she collects a bag full of stones with it, but it would easily hold a number of special stones, shells, leaves, flowers oh as well as her cellphone and sunglasses. What wee girl doesn't need something to carry those around in?
 
Email me on jstanfield@xtra.co.nz if you'd like to order one, prices start at $20.
Embellishments (knitted or needle felted) are also available for a small additional charge.

I love the idea of making them to match wee tops and cardies. In the pic, Penny is wearing a little 'Spring Butterfly' designed by Rachel Evans

Much to Penny's dismay this was also not for her, but for a swap I'm taking part in. But what a nice knit and fit. I will have to whip one up for Penny I think.