Pieces of Arisaig

I have not been idle.

All the pieces of Arisaig are finished! Hoorah, no more tiny rows of ribbing and boy am I sick of that lace pattern (as lovely as it is)....

I made quite a few mistakes with the sleeves, which was annoying because it's nothing complicated - I just kept losing count and sometimes I would forget to increase or decrease at the end of a row even when I had increased or decreased at the start of that row!!! Brain's gone to mush I think.

I did do something clever - a 3-needle bind off on the shoulders (see right). It saves a tiny bit of seaming (which is my pet hate, along with knitting in the round) and it looks way neater. Here's the blurb about it in Knitty but I used the instructions at the back of any Interweave Knits cos' there's a picture!

Hopefully I'll have the finished Arisaig to show and tell next week. The long weekend should help. I haven't yet decided on a colour for the tie yet but maybe a lilac or rose.

My next project will be the long awaited Asymmetrical Cardigan in Knitting Nature. In the meantime, my travel knitting consists of...


Cashmere lace scarf using Belisa Cashmere, which I started not long after Easter. Don't ask me why I'm putting myself through another fine lace project. I'm mad.

Handmade Felt Book

ISBN 4277430023

Beautiful Japanese book published by Ondori with lots of projects for bags, hats, creatures, corsages, baby booties and more.

Pics on my flickr.

A couple of the more basic projects have step-by-step photo instructions but the rest are just diagrams. Both wet felting and needle felting projects are included.

I'm not sure whether it's suitable for someone with no previous felting experience. I bought it more for inspiration and ideas rather than to learn how to felt.

Some really unusual bags are included, like the melon bag below... although I'm not really sure it's a bag - looks more like it's stuffed with fleece and it's a bit difficult to work out from the instructions when you can't speak Jap.


My absolute favourite in the book are these flower corsages...

Zoo of Socks

Came across this book on Angry Chicken's blog and just had to have it! (ISBN 4579110617)

Managed to find it at my local Kinokuniya (my favourite shop to browse at lunchtime, when I get one).


There are about 15 different animals you can make from socks or gloves. My faves include the pig, elephant, panda and red robin (I like them all!). There are pictorial instructions and look pretty easy to follow - although I haven't made anything yet.

There's even a small section on making clothes for the dolls (a top, pants, dress and hat). More pics on my flickr.


My first project will be the zebra, which is Jerms' favourite. Kudos to him for holding the book in the sun so I can take these pics.

In related news, Jerms and I did a photo shoot of a couple of my other Japanese craft books at the same time. I'll be posting pics of these in the next couple of days. Stay tuned.

Wee Make-a-long

First installment of Hilary Lang's (of Wee Wonderfuls' fame) make-a-long story is up!

I need some sewing skills.

One Angry Dwarf & 80-Piece Orchestra

Have been meaning to post about the Ben Folds and Sydney Symphony concert I went to last Friday.

It was AWESOME (and I'm not one of those cute Gen Y's who use the word liberally).

Here's a not so nice write up in the SMH. While I agree with Mr. Zuel that it's hard to improve on the originals, I think it's a bit cynical to say 'what's the point' when the arrangements showed off both Ben and the SSO's talents (like he , 'not just your usual pop-classic duet), the audience had a heap of fun and all the musos looked like they enjoyed doin' it. Isn't that what entertainment is all about?

Highlights for me were...

1. When he had to stand away from the piano and sing Not The Same - painfully uncomfortable, awkward and hilarious
2. The sci-fi'esq intro to one of the songs - I think it was One Angry Dwarf
3. Getting the story behind Cigarette - all the words are from one sentence in a newspaper article. Strangely he played Landed instead after telling the story
   
4. The orchestra playing the melodian part of Stephen's Last Night
5. And of course, finishing up on Luckiest in the encore - this last one for completely sentimental reasons
   

He also played a few of my favourites that don't usually get much airplay at gigs - Evaporated, Alice Childress and Carrying Cathy.

There are some fuzzy videos on YouTube. Of particular interest is this rendition of Rock This Bitch.

We got our photo snapped by some photographer sponsored by Jameson - hence the annoying logo. This is NOT an ad for them.

Yum Cha Fun

Went to Regal for yum cha on the weekend. One of my favourite Chinese desserts (aside from dun dan and sweet tofu) is the black sesame roll.

I have no idea how it's made or what ingredients are in it (except for mashed up black sesame) - probably better that I don't know.

I love playing with my food. Here's me unrolling the black sesame roll and rerolling it around a chopstick. Very silly I know.

Video of Jerms eating his can be found here.

Spiral

Found this amazing crochet pattern on kpixie.

Almost tempted me to buy now and learn to crochet later.

There's no description of the level of difficulty but I suspect it's of the treacherously HARD variety.

Crikey.

Nature Adventure

My Knitting Nature has finally arrived! I'll be blogging my adventures on the Knitalong with supplementary pics and excessively self-indulgent comments on this blog.

My first project is the Asymmetrical Cardigan.

I'm tempted by the Coastline Skirt though...

Fingertips & Mountaintops

I put in my preorder for Darren Hanlon's new album, Fingertips and Mountaintops, today. It's coming out on October 2nd.

This is the first album of Darren's that I'm actually forking out real money for. I've heard his songs on the J's before and loved them (especially Falling Aeroplanes and I Wish I Was Beautiful For You) but have never really bothered to find out more.

Finally went to one of his gigs a few months ago and absolutely loved it. He is so funny live.

Just to be safe I bought all his other albums as well. To save on postage, you know.

There's a few audio tracks on the Candle Records website. Well worth a listen.

Chugging Along

Arisaig is coming along nicely. I've finished the back and have started on the left front.

I am a little concerned about whether the 2x2 ribbing will flatten sufficiently after blocking. I already used larger sized needles for it but the DB Baby Cashmerino is very springy - too springy perhaps?

Revenge of the Cardigan

Came across Ben Kweller's free 'One Minute Pop Song' podcasts completely by accident on iTunes. I don't know how I missed them before considering I subscribe to his newsletter...

Anyway, they are quite amusing vignettes* of his life and well worth a peek if at least for this incredibly daggy aran cardigan he wears throughout. (Man, I had one of those when I was a kid in that exact shade.)

I like the episode where he talks about how he learnt the drums from his dad. I think it's ep 4.

You can also get them on YouTube, but mate, if you got this far, just follow the links on his website.

Actually I came across BK's podcast cos I was downloading Zach Braff's (also free) podcast about his new movie 'The Last Kiss' (which unfortunately for Australia, is not coming out til Feb 07). Again they are short vignettes* of cast members doing very very inane things. I'm sure there are links on his blog.

*I really truly hate the word 'vignette'. I think it's one of the ugliest words on the planet, but I was forced by my thesis supervisor to use it over and over again in my thesis to refer to these videos that I showed my research 'subjects'. Clearly the experience has scarred me.

Space Invaders

Found these super cool space invader 'wall decals' (is that the technical name for wall stickers?) on Via Alley. My brother and I used to have a space invader game. This brings back memories... awwwww.

Too bad they're sold out.

But check out these Potato Queen charaters by Genevieve Gauckler. Would be great for decorating a kid's room. (Now I just have to find the kids.)

Death By Ribbing

I started Arisaig about a week ago using Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in a navy.

I finally finished the 2x2 ribbing on the back today. Done on 3mm needles it was an absolute killer (the pattern actually calls for size 2.25mm (!!) but I'm generally a tight knitter and I didn't think changing needles between the ribbing and the pattern does that much for the shaping anyway). I don't know if I have the stamina to go through the ribbing two more times (for the fronts).

Does anyone know of an Arisaig knitalong? I need some mutual motivation!

Scoops

Been meaning to mention this for a while...

Sophie Cooper is behind Scoops Design. She had a stall at the Young Blood Designers' Markets and I got one of her cool poodle brooches. She's got some funky customised tees too.

Looks like you can buy her stuff online. Always handy.

Rockin' Cupcakes

I have been salivating over a Rocky Road Cupcake recipe that was in a Donna Hay magazine a couple of months back (I think it was issue 27... Anyone?). Then we saw this in a cafe in Glebe on the weekend...

I was going to get one after we'd had lunch but then we'd spent all our money on parking and at the markets and had literally no cash left! Worst thing was, I forgot to even take down the name of the cafe. All I know is that it's on Glebe Point Road, opposite the school. Ideas, anyone?

They also had this...

(It says 'Malteaser "Lindt Chocolates" Cake' on the sign.)

Young Blood

Jamnuts and I went to the Sydney Design 06 Young Blood Designers Market on Saturday.

We had a fab time checking out all the innovative and funky fashion, jewellery and homeware designs of up and coming Australian designers.

I didn't get any photos cos' Jamnuts was too embarrassed by me taking out my camera like a I'm about to steal these people's designs, (not that I have the skill anyway) but I've made a list of all the labels that stood out for me...

Christiania - chunky perspex jewellery, a playful take on victorian cameo jewellery.

Slingfings and bird textile by Rachel Bending - Gorgeous gorgeous Jap inspired printed fabrics and clothes. I fell in love with this tie wrap dress (below) in a bird fabric print but couldn't justify spending $230. Now I can think of a million reasons why I should've got it.

(btw, you can buy any of the dresses in ANY of the bird fabric designs on the Slingfings website!)

I also liked this apron dress but not sure how often I'd really wear it...


High Tea With Mrs Woo by 3 sisters, Rowena, Juliana and Angela Foong - Modern fashion designs with an Asian twist. Very unique cuts but beautifully fitted designs. I loved the top and dress on the left. Check out their lovely website and design gallery.

fg by Felicity Gleeson - resin bangles embedded with bits of lace, crochet doillies or fabric. Really feminine stuff. She also makes these unusual alien looking dolls and brooches from antique fabric. An ecclectic combination. According to her card, "This wistful collection was created with the scent of freshly baked scones and jam wafting in from the next room, to the sound of someone putting the kettle on and cups clattering onto their saucers." Unfortunatly she doesn't have a website and I forgot to ask whether she has any stockists but you can email her at felicitygleeson(at)yahoo(dot)com(dot)au

Bleak Indeed

Jerms and I have been following the adventures of Miss Esther Summerson, the main character in Dickens' Bleak House over the past few weeks (BBC production on the ABC, Sundays 8.30pm-9.30pm).

I'm not sure how many episodes are left but it is well worth watching. Like most of Dickens' stories, this one is pretty dark and full of intriguing characters with funny names like Guppy, Jarndyce, Krook and Skimpole.

For a fun overview of Dickens' life, catch the short animation found on the BBC site. Quite amusing.

For the full text of the novel, check out the eBook.

1st Music Post

I know that the subtitle of this blog suggests that I blog about music and bands and stuff but so far, none of that's been happening.

Main reason is that around the same time this blog started I got an iPod (yes shock horror) for the first time. As a result of that momentous development in my life I decided to go through and listen to all my old music, in order to justify my new acquisition (well technically it was acquired by Jerms but what's his is mine, so).

Anyway, long and short of it is that I have not bought ANY new music since the week before Easter (when I bought The Whitlams' Little Cloud, Jack Johnson's Curious George and Augie March's Moo, You Bloody Choir all in one go). That's nearly 5 months with no new music!

But the drought has broken! Yesterday I bought...
Clare Bowditch and the Feeding Set's What Was Left
Kings of Leon's Aha Shake Heartbreak (Limited Tour Edition)

I've had my eye on Clair's album for a while now - she has a mesmerising husky voice. Highly recommended. Loving track 2 'Lips Like Oranges', 3 'I Thought You Were God' and 5 'Divorcee by 23'.

The main reason I got KoL's album was actually cos' it was only $9.90. I did see them at the Big Day Out and they were rockin'. Better than, dare I say, The White Stripes' set (I must be the only person in the world who do not like them live).

Actually I walked into the music shop looking for The Panics' Sleeps Like A Curse cos' it was Richard Kingsmill's no. 1 favourite album for 2005 (Richard is the sexiest man on radio), and I'd listened to the FREE MP3s on The Panics' website and loved every track, especially 'In Your Head' and 'Twin Sisters'. Check it out.

(I didn't end up buying the album cos' it felt too indulgent to get 3 albums in one go... and I'm trying to be more sensible with money. Trying.)

Haigh's Chocolates

I'm still on a mission to find the best chocolate shop in Sydney. (See my earlier rant here.)

Queen B and I went to Haigh's in The Strand Arcade one lunch this week and it was somewhat disappointing.

Mind you, the chocolates looked very nice, but the prices were heart stopping. (Although it looked like lots of people could afford them. The shop was packed.)

Things that tempted me included...
70% cocoa dark chocolate block ($7.50 for 100g)
Dark chocolate marshmallow bars and ginger bars ($7.40 for a pack of 4, 176g in total)
Super sized frogs ($16 for a 375g frog)
Dark chocolate rocky road ($6.90 for 200g or $16.35 for 500g)

We walked out with just a dark chocolate peppermint frog ($0.90) for me and a milk chocoate cappucino bar ($1.80) for Queen B. The frog was good but the bar was way too sweet.

They did give us free choc coated berry balls. But the insides were like yoghurt coated synthetic fruit. I much prefer the chocolate coated raspberries I had here.

Seaming Weekend

All the pieces of Cosmopolitan are finished. It's going to be seamed on the weekend as it is absolutely impossible to see the stitches in the evening when I'm home from work.

Never again will I make anything in black mohair.