BUSY BUSY BUSY

Time is certainly flying by, October!!!!!! 

Last post my Mother in Law had just passed away.  We did a fly by trip to NZ with my eldest daughter to attend her memorial.
When we arrived it was like this....

This was the Southern Alps as we were driving toward the pass from Christchurch at about 8am on the 2nd of July.  I was pretty apprehensive about the weather on this trip.  You never know what you'll get in NZ in winter and I was surprised at the lack of snow for July on the Alps.  Our destination was Karamea on the west coast so we had a long drive ahead (about 6hrs).

The Memorial was lovely and held in Nana's garden where a nosey Native Wood Pigeon came to visit in the Kowhai tree.  Geo told a wonderful story of how the Pigeon was the catalyst to them buying that particular home.  I did not know any of this when I got a tattoo of the Wood Pigeon on my forearm.  Co-incidence?

We stopped by the birthplace of the Corriedale sheep too.  Had to add something woolie to the itinerary.

 After the memorial we drove up to Nelson to visit a dear friend.  We hadn't seen each other since I moved to Australia so it was wonderful to catch up with her.  Of course I was knitting the whole time we were traveling and I left my friend a gift of the Rivendell Smoke Ring cowl.

Alas a very brief 6 days later we're heading back to Christchurch to fly home and my fears for the weather came true.  We were lucky though as the pass was still open after being ploughed clear from the dumping it got the night before.

 On the way up the Lewis pass.

At the lookout at the top

 We were back in plenty of time to check out how Christchurch is going after the earth quakes of a couple of years back.  They're still in the grip of recovery and the signs of the shakes are all over the place.

This was our lunch/dinner before going to the airport.  Best gluten free loaded baked potatoe EVER!!!
The trip was an emotional blur but one we'll never forget.

So back to now...........

I have been spinning and knitting as usual and have my latest achievements to share.  I entered two of my lace knits into the Sunbury Agricultural Show.

My big bedspread, the Persian Star

Got first in knitting not scheduled.

And my LOTR Evenstar Shawl with it's 2800 beads around the edging...

It's my own hand spinning and dying from fibre I got from Deb (dudleyspinner) in the mid west USA.

Got first in Handspun Other Item and best in class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I also got a second for my handspun socks as well but I don't have a pic.

I've also been doing a fair bit of spinning that I have photographed so I had better take some more pics.
I do have a photo of the singles I was plying of the Bond top I got from Jenny (shiloh wool) at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show.

Well that's it.  Up to date.  I did do some Indigo dying yesterday but alas...didn't take pics..will next time though.

RIP Carrie Snowden

 Nana with her first two granddaughters 1991

My mother in law and inspiration of my craft.  I first met her when I was 17 and we became friends as well as mother/daughter in-law.  She attended the first few of my children's births and most importantly gave me my first wheel and fleece.  She was an incredibly talented artist in many crafts and world renown for her flax weaving and other crafts.  She was also a most excellent gardener.

She will sadly leave a huge hole in our family.

 

Nana's last trip to visit us a couple of years ago.  It was the first  time she met the youngest kid.

We had a wonderful visit with Nana.

 

We will always love you!

THE SHAWL...AKA BEDSPREAD

Went to spinning group today and was blocked.  It's 2.9m wide so very King Size.
Price on this beauty is $2000 and that's a bargain considering how many hours one poor kiwi/australian put into making this beautiful masterpiece which will never be repeated.  No you gain sayers, it will never be repeated since ya'll won't have the exact fibres and colours this shawl used.

Apparently.....I am not allowed to put it on my bed until it's been to the Australian Sheep and Wool Show and been judged...We'll see.....well it is actually put away so it's not going to be second hand for at least 6 months..buyers?????

We usually have upward of 24 people in this room at one time with wheels etc..being after xmas, not all the ladies were present and lucky for me, they like me enough to tolerate my huge blocking item.  I think we did a pretty good job (yes I did have help..what you think I'm stupid? so much expertise in one room....)!!!

I call it my accidental shawl as I was not expecting this size..And the ladies saw it at all stages and no one there thought it was nearly so large either...It's a beauty.......

The blocking mats are about 80cm square per piece..just for reference...

THE Cardi!!

 OK so here's the cardi all finished.  I think it would look better if I modeled it but nah...
Fibre is Kid Mohair/Polwarth/Silk from my awesome buddy up there in merry ole England.  Picperfic, you ROCK!!..  I think there is barely 100g in this knit.  The perfect summer cardi!
The pattern was picked for the lace insert, oddly enough it's the only part of the pattern that was used.  AND I had to have huge amounts of help from the lovely Yarnstormer from our spinning group who had to search the web to find the obscure stitches in the lace panel.  I have a v neck and contigious shoulder, the tie in the front is icord and has 3 bells sewn to the end of each. 

I love it....
bonus pic..me wearing it whilst showing off Persian Star at my daughters today...

 Bonus pic of Persian Star on a Queen size bed!!! And it's not even blocked yet!!..it'll look awesome on a king bed.....Offers welcome!!!!  It could be yours!

More pics of the finished shawl in a later blog entry....

TAH DAH!!!

So you take this....

And turn it into this.....

OK, details, the center wool is my own blend, Camelicious, Baby Camel/BFL/Silk
The next colour, purple is Not Sock Blend, BFL/Silk, these two are hand spun and dyed by me.
The outter wool is NomNom, BFL/Silk, commercially dyed but hand spun by me again.

The shawl Pattern is Persian Star by Zari Zamen with errata's to the final border chart by Dame-en-noir on Ravelry, many thanks to her!!!!

It's not actually finished yet but I couldn't wait to post a pic of it.  I still have to sew in a few ends and block it which will be no mean feat due to the size of it.  The curtain rail it's over in the picture, is  a 2m picture window and it's barely stretched out.  It's certainly going to fit my king size bed easily as a cover.

A friend asked me if I was going to keep it for myself, which I will of course, unless someone wants to offer a fair price for a piece of lace work made from hand spun wool.  All offers considered, email me at woolznyarnz@hotmail.com