knit n bitch

Oiled and nearly all done!

Need I say more.......

 

Getting There, the next kitchen saga!

Ok, so I had a tiler that didn't show up and wouldn't answer his phone!  This then had a knock on effect with the man who was coming to fit the range hood (ie, he couldn't fit the hood without the tiles up!!).  The next date the range hood man could come was 19th December (Arrrggghhhh!) but I can still use the oven and hot plates, as long as I am not cooking too many greasy stir-frys (not that I do anyhow).  I managed to get a tiler who could do the work in a day, but it meant that I was home all day Saturday to oversee the work.  This is the result so far, just need the power points in, the cornices re-done, the bench tops sanded and oiled, then a few weeks to wait for the range hood.

 

My Weakness!

I am developing a rather unsavoury addiction!  I can't help myself, I just can't!  Every once in a while I pop onto the Blue Moon Fiber Arts website and I buy!  Not always LOADS, but at least $200AUD per shop (which doesn't really get you that much to be honest, but, ooooohhhh, soooooooo worth it!).

This morning my recent visit to BMFA arrived.  In the parcel was two hanks of the GORGEOUSLY STUNNING Socks That Rock Heavyweight yarn (bear in mind that I'm not really a sock knitter as yet....working on that one), and  one hank of the 'must have it, my precious' Peru, which is a yummy blend of Alpaca, Merino & Silk in a WHOPPING 457m per hank!  Colours of the Heavyweight are called Hard Rock and Sugarplums and the Peru is called Lucy in The Sky......SEE, even the names are EDIBLE!

      

I also have a wee bit of the Geisha (mmmmmmmmmmm....) and I think the Leticia will be the next 'sample' for me!

I have earmarked the Peru for an Elizabeth Zimmerman baby cardigan called the Baby Surprise Jacket for my little Charlie Flynn....noice shane, noice!

MORE Kitchen Shots (nearly there!)

Day 3:-

   

By the way, I decided to go with the pale grey/ochre tiles and they look sooooo much better with a bit of white grout in them, which brings out the small mosaic look.

My tiler comes today to shove the 6m of tiles on the walls, cornices are being sorted on Saturday and then the reange hood goes in sometime next week after the tiles have settled!

Kitchen Joy!

Not to be outdone by Miss Nicole and her posh new kitchen, we are in the process of having a brand new kitchen put in (YAY!!).  I forgot (doh!) to take a before shot, so you'll just have to put up with the 'during' shots!!  So THIS is day 1....... 

We have been eating Pizza in the bedroom, due to all the mess in the kitchen/dining room, breakfasts out on the patio in the morning (brrrrrrr) and then tonight we ate hot chook sandwiches across the road in the park whilst the workers (a  lovely dutch husband and wife team) busily finished off the last bit of their part of the story!

THIS little lot is day 2!  Nearly all finished, and the picture hides the lovely double ceramic sink.  All that needs doing now is my double oven to go in, the lovely range hood and then tiles....ooooohhhh the tiles, the hardest part of choosing a kitchen me thinks!  I am stuck between two 'fake mosiac' tiles, one has several shades of charcoal/grey, and the other is just a subtle, slightly more classy, less busy pale grey (bear in mind that the tiler grouts between the 'faux' mosiacs, so the tile will look like it is made up of lots of little tiles).  Would love to hear opinions on whether to go for plain or busy (bear in mind that there will be 6m squared of tiles, mainly above the cooker)!!

I am looking forward to getting running water back, an oven and the chance to tidy up the tip! Next big job is getting wooden or laminate flooring laid (thinking of getting commercial grade laminate) and then french doors (hate the ugly sliding doors).  For now though, I will be content with a new kitchen until I can work on he-who-has-a-hairy-chest!

'Arrgghh Me 'Arrties!

This little cutie is an Amy Gaines Amigurumi pattern called the Pirate Panda.  It's for Mister Luka Jack, and it made up from Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran & Aran Tweed.  Knit on 3.25mm needles, it's hard on the hands, but the stitches are nice and tight and the results are worth it.  So far he's only 15cm tall, but he doesn't have his legs yet.  Luka keeps nagging for this one, so must hurry and get the rest finished!

Amy Butler Office Chairs

Here at The Wool Shack, we wanted a pretty place to park our bums!  Fed up with the bog standard brown, black, red office chairs that are normally available, we started to go on the hunt for a better chair.  Luckily enough, we came across a company based in Perth, Redfurn, who will cover the chairs in whatever fabric you like.  Sooooo, I ordered in some Amy Butler fabric from the US (this is from the Nigella range) and sent it to redfurn, and this is the gorgeous result!  We felt that  our pretty behinds needed pretty chairs!

Monkey Amigurumi Breakthrough! HORRAH!

I am DELIGHTED to announce that, after a bit of guidance from Rachael (ta muchly!) I have 'Ad-Libbed' the first arm of my Monkey Amigurumi!  Horrah again!  I am going to keep going and stick to the legs and arms first, just to get my crochet bearings, then I will go for the head and body when I am confident with the stitches.  I am using Peaches & Creme cotton, which is just divine to use, and the colours are so fab!  Think all my Ami's will be in this!

Monkey Amigurumi Help!!

Here's me, putting out feelers to your Amigurumi fans, or Crochet gurus!  I spotted this crocheted monkey in a magazine, and I just have to make him.  Don't have a pattern - want a pattern (or at least some guidance!).  If anyone can help, do email me!

Amigurumi Christmas Delight!

I'v had a bit of an Amigurumi pattern buying frenzy recently, and now I am trying to get the girls involved in a Christmas Amigurumi Knit Along!  Here are the contenders......

 

I'm thinking maybe start wtih an easy option (like the snowman) as this will be our first crocheted Amigurumi!  Will keep you posted on that one.

Now got to track down and purchase this lovely 12ply Acrylic that other Ami users seem to prefer (will be a first for me getting Acrylic).  As my old pal Miss Nicole would say, "how many acrylics died for that ball of yarn".....always makes me laugh that one!