A Sneak Peek of What's Next and 200th Entry!

I should be waiting really...till the release I suppose which isn't far away now. But my photographer friend Rachael sent me a couple of photos of one of the scarves I sent her for to take pics of and I think she's done an amazing job! And my blog is telling me I've written 199 blog posts and so it's just begging me to write a 200th one! So here it is

On the 1st of May (which is just tomorrow!) I'm going to be releasing my next collection of patterns called 'Poplar' - it includes blankets in various sizes, scarves in various weight yarns and a dishcloth pattern that I think is really quick and looks nice.

While I'm at it - my sister Sarah has released more patterns since I posted last about her Zipped Up.

Her newest pattern is called Tango Tank and is a free pattern that has been published in the latest Petite Purls. How cute is my neice Amelia!

And she's also released her Bella Mia pattern too a lovely sweater that is written in both 4ply/fingering weight and 10ply/worsted weight.

Both very cute and practical!

Right, I'll be back tomorrow!

xx

J

Yarn - it's not just for knitting...

Or crocheting, no yarn has many uses, including keeping kids occupied during the school holidays

My son Timothy was driving me a bit bonkers one day during the holidays. We were outside and I was doing one of my favourite things whilst in the back-yard (since having children anyway)...hanging out the washing. When Timothy gets in one of his funks he seems to get upset about everything and can't manage to walk properly, let alone bike without falling off it, climb the steps of the trampoline - well, you get the idea.

So, this one day, as I was hanging out the washing and Timothy was having a hard time I came across a ball of yarn in the bottom of my washing trolley. Doesn't everyone?

And I passed it to my 3 year old son, pointed to the swing frame and suggested he make a bear trap.

I can't recommend it enough! Oh the peace! The silence! The concentration on his face as he constructed his web like trap. And the trap itself - well he and his older sister had plenty of fun in it till I gave them both a pair of scissors a couple of days later and they created quite a pile of yarn for a bird to maybe use to make it's nest.

Stash Diving

It's taken on a whole new meaning now that David's really getting into everything!

This is my knitting bag, behind one of the chairs in our lounge. He's just discovered it and has decided he likes diving in...unfortunately he can't get himself out afterwards!

At 14 months, he's walking and communicating and just generally getting into mischief. He's also outgrowing everything, so I've recently commissioned some people to knit him some winter clothes - because I'm crazy busy with patterns and knitting samples and prototypes at the moment. But about that another day - just had to share this. You'll just have to imagine the sound effects that accompanied it.

Zipped Up

I've been meaning to post this for ages - but my clever little sister, otherwise known as Sarah Ronchetti, has delved into the world of pattern designing (and spectacularly at that for I know she has plenty more due to be released over the next couple of months).

Her first to hit Ravelry is Zipped Up, it's a lovely little vest with an optional cable detail. I've knitted it as well (though my yarn smacks of something David Bain would've worn) so I'll show you some of her FO pics. The models - my nephew James and my biggest fella - Timothy.

Sarah's pattern is well written and easy to follow. On top of that, for those a bit nervous about the zip, it has a link to a fabulous zip sewing in tutorial and I must admit it's a really nice way to finish a knitted garment - and not difficult at all! Nice to be able to add that to the list of skills I have now too. Go on, whip one up this weekend!

Sarah has a blog too - you should pop over HERE and see what she posts over there, she's got plenty more lovely patterns to share as they are released along with

977

I had a quick look today and realised there are a few fo's knitted up using one of my patterns these days! 977 looking at Rav (and that doesn't include those that have tested my next couple of patterns either...but more about that shortly)

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! To everyone that has bought and then knitted one (or more) of my patterns thanks so much, there's nothing like seeing some of the fabulous garments knitted from something I worked on.

So the stats at the moment sit like this:
Little Hoodlum - 357 projects
Hotshot - 333 projects
Young Einstein - 190 projects
Teacher's Pet - 71 projects
And PupPup's Mini Hotshot For Teddies - 26 projects (and this was developed by Christine Jeffery and she has other fabulous patterns too, I definitely need to knit a few more of her moebius patterns this winter)

I'm hoping to have a few more patterns to add to my collection shortly, I'm aiming for the 1st of May release for one collection just in time for winter. But I'll have more about that soon.

Thanks again and happy knitting!

Lucky Me

Today, when I was putting the kids in the car after the school pick up a little old lady was calling something to me from her nearby garden. I went over to her and she said 'I was hoping to see your baby', indicating to the now empty buggy. Now normally, I'm more than happy to show off my children, but this afternoon's pick up had conflicted with David's sleeping and so he was not the most cheerful. So I told her I'd already popped him in the car.

'I had a baby' she said, and proceeded to tell me about her only baby, a baby which while she was pregnant with it was discovered she was sick, needed treatment and had radiation, resulting in her child who is has lived in an IHC residence for a long time by the sounds of it.
'How many children have you got there?' she said, peering through her elderly eyes at my people mover.
'3, a 5 year old, 3 year old and 1 year old'

This is normally where I get the stock standard comment 'You must have your hands full!'
Instead, she said 'Aren't you lucky!' to which it was easy to reply 'Yes, I am'
'And they'll all be such good friends, what a lovely age gap'
She continued to tell me how she couldn't have any more children after her son, there were tears in her eyes. It made me realise just how lucky I am.

She was standing holding a rake, she'd just been doing work in her immaculate garden. I complimented it and told her she reminded me of my grandmother, who spends a lot of time thinking about her garden and not as much time as she'd like working in it now she's getting older. I mentioned how it must be gardens that keep people so young.
She said to me, 'Well, how old do you think I am?'
Now, this is a tricky question isn't it!
So I replied, 'Well, my grandma is 92, and you must be younger than that'
And she smiled and proudly said 'Oh no I'm not! I'm 96'

Anyway, we had a few more wee snippets of conversation, and then I realised that the kids were in a hot stuffy car and I really should take them home. But I couldn't help but think what a lovely old lady and yes, how lucky am I to have 3 quite wonderful children.
And I'm going to try and park there again, just so next time she can check out my 'baby' (who is 1 now!) and I can say hello and admire her garden a bit more.
And next time someone says 'You must have your hands full!' I'd love to be able to respond with something positive like 'I wouldn't change a thing', because I wouldn't.

Empowered

I've just been for a walk and I felt so fricken awesome I felt the need to blog...yes, me, who hasn't blogged since November.

See, I've been a little busy lately, what with the summer, Christmas, a three year old's birthday, the holidays, but I've also been investing some time on me. Yep that's right, I'm spending a little less time in front of the tv knitting and trying to make time every evening for me to exercise. I've been walking the dogs around where I live (it's definitely hilly!) and been trying out some Zumba and classes at the gym.

Tonight's walk, that's Wellington Harbour out there

Here it is again around sunset a couple of weeks ago

The best walking buddies ever! But sooo hard to photograph without them moving.

And today, my husband even commented that he could see I'd lost some weight. Mwah, thanks darling! There's nothing like hearing that. I've lost approx 8 kgs so far...I've got a lot more to lose. But I feel really positive I'll get there. There's no doubt in my mind that I can do it.

But here's where I get to the point of my blog entry. As I walked tonight, taking in the stunning view in my neighbourhood and the lovely cooling summer evening, I realised I felt great. Even after really pushing it going up the hill, frick I felt awesome. And that's because this is for me. I feel like for the first time since before getting pregnant and having kids (Penny turns 5 in a couple of weeks) I am actually looking after my body and in a way feeding my soul (gawd, sorry if that sounds terribly cliched).

I listen to my music as I walk, there are no demands for The Wiggles and Hi5, or I listen to an audiobook - undisturbed! Tonight my music on shuffle turned up a bit of Glee, Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Taylor Swift, Adele, Lady Gaga as well as something I have nooo idea what it was, but it was metalish with a great beat...it sure keeps you guessing what's going to be next! For the last couple of weeks I've also really really enjoyed listening to the series of The Hunger Games as I walked, I don't think I've finished 3 books back to back that fast since having kids.

I'm also being a bit mindful of what I eat, no more sitting down and polishing off half a block of chocolate or a packet of hokey pokey squiggle tops. I'm not saying I only eat lettuce and carrots, but I've swapped my choc fix for gingernuts and Eve apples (only Eve's, they are delicious). I'm using My Fitness Pal, it's a great free site!

And I have the most inspirational sister and friends, who have been there, done that and are still doing it too. There's nothing like seeing that they've lost 10-35 kgs. It hasn't happened overnight, obviously, but they've been so committed and so supportive.

So there you go, a memememe post, and I'm not going to apologise for it at all. I love my kids, wouldn't change a thing! But I think having a bit of time out, recognising that I'm worth investing a little time on too makes me a better wife and mum. One who hopefully will be around for many many years to enjoy seeing my kids grow.

Timothy, David and Penny, Dec 2011

Oh, and that doesn't mean I'm not knitting - I'm actually getting ready to test a couple more of my designs shortly...I'm just not spending as much time these days knitting. Quality, not quantity ;)

I spy with my little eye something beginning with P

Today's entry is brought to you by the letter P.

P for Penny with the Pox

Penny got her first spot on Tuesday, gradually her chicken pox have spread over her torso and legs, we were happy that her face seemed to have missed spots - but she's woken up with them on her face and head today. I'm hoping she's fine by her first school visit in a weeks time! This pic is a pretty tame one of her spots, but it's G rated ;)

P is also for Present

This beautiful present arrived from my friend Hannah of Red Riding Hood Yarns yesterday evening. It's a skein of her 10ply hand-dyed in the colourway Green with Envy (which since playing Dingbats as a kid I always think of as Greenvy these days). Included was also a lovely note and a 'smiley happy people' LUSH (omg, I've never had lush stuff but it smells and looks soooooo good) package. Inside is a delcious looking soap, bodywash and emotibomb - so lovely! Thanks so much Hannah xxx

And finally - no pic for this, but P might also be for pattern development...but it's only at swatching and figuring out stage at the moment.

Enjoy your Thursday! xxx

Wednesday Snapshots

I thought I might try and pop up some snapshots regularly - perhaps of things I'm working on, things the kids are up to, that kind of thing

These were taken yesterday at about 5pm. Known to many households with children as the arsenic hour.

At my place, I was making dinner while Timothy made a birthday cake, complete with candle.

Penny drew a picture. This one depicts what happened earlier in the morning. I was doing the kindy drop off with the three children, it was pouring with rain. When I finally got everyone buckled in to the car I found I must've locked my keys in the car. So here we are trapped in the car, with it raining outside while we waited for my husband to come home (after trying various doors and windows). The people you can see in the car are me, David and Penny. Penny said you can't see Timothy, he sits on the other side of the car - which is right.

And Mr 9 months old today was having a marvellous time trying out all the pizza toppings for the homemade pizzas I was making.

Sock Blocker Pre-Christmas Special

Christmas is coming, what better way to treat a knitter you know, or buy some for your kids to wrap up for you for Christmas!

10% off all our sock blockers

Made of a lovely biscuity coloured kauri laminated ply (sourced locally), they are great for blocking those newly knit socks to just the right shape. The ply is smooth and thin, perfect for slipping into your socks with no snags.

Available in 5 different sizes:

* Kids (2 sizes - child or baby),
* Small (women's sizes 5-7NZ, 22.5cm)
* Medium (women's sizes 7.5-9NZ, 25.5cm)
* Large (women's and men's sizes 10+NZ, 27.5cm)

And the price is now even harder to beat!
$15 each now $13.50 each
2 (they don't have to be 2 the same size) for $28 $25.20...ok, let's make it a straight $25
3 for $40 $36, that's $12 each!
Kids ones (child or baby sized) $10 each $9

If you'd like to order or ask further questions, email me - jstanfield@xtra.co.NZ

This special is for New Zealanders only, postage is additional ($7.50 for Nth Island, 12.50 for Sth Island). Pick up from Lower Hutt also available. Please be aware that Blair makes them to order, so they can take approx 2 weeks for delivery. Discount runs until the 15th of December.