The Sun in Autumn

© Melissa Gaggiano

    The cold season is always a welcome distraction in this house, particularly when we've been watching the weather bureau for blessed signs that the temperature is actually going to turn and drop below 25ºC.

    Now that Autumn actually feels like a real Autumn my family relishes in eating hot homemade pies and drinking hot chocolate. During the cold seasons I also have the urge to knit scarves. This is funny because it would make more sense to knit the scarf when it is still warm. Then the scarf can be ready to be worn at the first sign of frosty Melbourne winds.

    Right now I am knitting a sunny, yellow scarf from yarn left over from another craft project. I want this scarf to be super long, so in all likelihood I will be revisiting the craft store to buy a second skein.

    What do you look forward to doing during the cold seasons?

© Melissa Gaggiano

Coraline's Clothes

    I was tossing up whether to paint a top onto the Coraline doll or knit one. The knitting idea won out and I began planning and knitting the top.

 

    Oh yeah! And I just had to share a photo of this delicous dinner from last night. It was an Indian dish of butter chicken, with a side of rice, brocoli and cauliflower. We sat outside and ate dinner with a glass of Penfold's wine. I think having dinner outdoors is simply the best way to eat? Do you agree?

Wednesday Peeps

    This week I am attempting to write a story, in week two of a course called The Artist's Way [by Julia Cameron], knitting a blanket for Barbie [at the request of my eldest], doodling drawings, attempted to cook a poached egg [I mention it now but let us not speak of it again - absolute disaster], dreaming of eating a pecan pie, wanting to wear sparkly sneakers and a pink cowgirl hat.
    The other night I dreamt that I met Harry Kim [of Star Trek: Voyager] up the street. And he excitedly shows me a letter press that just happened to be out in the street. I see that a template zine is already set up in the machine and I imagine making my own zine with it. Yeah! Welcome to my brain.

The girls at play.

Admiring my envelope collection

New stationery for working on a story.

The cat in the window.

Latest craft project.

I Finally Got There

Hoorah-hoorah! Friday has finally touched down. And I am in a wonderful state of mind.

This morning I managed to finish knitting my scarf a week ahead of my own deadline. I think it helped playing Pride & Prejudice (the BBC series) in the background while I worked that wool and knitting needles.

This week I ate my way through a whole country’s worth of Easter chocolate. At one point my husband had to wonder “Didn’t we have four chocolate bunnies?” I nodded and pointed at my stomach. Honestly, I have such a sweet tooth for chocolate that the only way to keep me from eating it is — if it’s hidden from me, or if I actually forget that it’s in the house. I prefer the second option, because it is so exciting when you discover a massive chocolate supply weeks after you bought it. Whereas, if it’s hidden, my chocolate seeking nose will somehow, still find it out.

Lately I have been trying to do a bit more reading. The past week or so I have gotten through Jane Eyre, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Through the Looking Glass. The next book I intend to read on my Nintendo DS is Pilgrim’s Progress, written by John Bunyan. I think I recall this story being referenced in Little Women.

I wonder what next week has in store for me.

My Creative Space

My scarf notes.

Inspiration: Harry Potter scarfs.

Today I shall begin knitting myself a scarf. I have been inspired by the long scarfs, which were worn in one of the Harry Potter films. The colour scheme I have chosen is inspired by another blogger’s jumper knitting, which also used black and pink. As soon as I saw these two colours together I just knew how my scarf project would be.

Yesterday my daughter and I made a small trip to the local wool shop. I am so lucky it is only a two-minute walk. I chose my knitting yarn for my scarf, plus some pink ribbon for Gwen [the ribbon became a lead for a certain Barbie car, so that it can be pulled along.].

Monday Musings and Books

Yeee-esss! Many dried cuticles and one callus later I finished knitting my red beanie. Thank goodness for that. The temperature this weekend was finally turning toward a colder climate. This, after weeks of the Autumn season having an identity crisis — still believing itself to be Summer.

So, where am I at this week? I’ll give my hands a break from my knitting, giving them a chance to recoup natural oils. Although after last night, I am quite tempted to knit myself a Gryffindor inspired scarf, after having watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

I think knitting is becoming an addiction for me. I am rather relieved when I finish a knitting project and look forward to taking a break from it. But then 24 hours later I am inspired by something else and my fingers are itching to begin knitting something new. Does this happen to you? I wonder what the odds are of me starting a new knitting project before the week is out.

What books have I been reading lately? Let’s see…

Last week a friend loaned me Sex in the City by Candace Bushnell. I read it in about two days. It was a funny and light read. I was warned that it would be a bit racy. But honestly after reading a pile of Sookie Stackhouse stories there wasn’t anything in Sex in the City that could shock me.

I had also borrowed from the library Miss Masala by Mallika Basu, a practically edible book on Indian cuisine for people just a tad short on time. I’ll have to borrow this one again sometime.

Another library book was Like I Give a Frock by Michi Girl. This was a delicious read and is such a cute coffee table/hand bag book. Hmmm, ‘edible’ and ‘delicious’ — with words like that I must be hungry.

Now I am rereading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Going back through the Harry Potter stories has me having quite a few ah-hah moments. All the mysterious parts of the story that came together at the end, JK Rowling was already hinting to in the earlier books. So there you go, the woman really did have the whole saga properly planned from the beginning. Considering how complex the story is that must have taken a lot of effort.

Plus, I still have a pile of ‘classic’ books in my Nintendo DS that I have yet to get through, so I’ll no doubt get to that next.

My Creative Space

    It's funny, how without really thinking too hard about it I suddenly find myself with a few different projects on the go.
    Anyone who has been following my blog of late will notice a switch to writing. Though I still do find myself being drawn (pun entirely intended) to my illustrations, to accessorise and compliment my writing.
    The past few days I have been knitting a red beanie for myself. A few months ago I declared that this year would be all about the colour red. I simply had to have something in my wardrobe that is red — whether that be a hat or shoes. The year was getting on and I still had not made good on my promise to myself. Now that we are heading into cooler days and I had been knitting beanies for other family members it just fell into place. I would knit myself a red beanie. Just imagine it — red beanie and red lipstick, together at last. Maybe when my pregnancy is over I can look at getting a pair of red high heel shoes to complete the look.

    Today I have been working on a birthday card, combining illustration, water colour paints, and stencil paper crafts — something with a 20s feel.
    I might even look at decorating some homemade wrapping paper. Though we'll see what my energy levels say about that.
    Now, lets have a look at other wonderful creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.

Red Beanie

In and through.

Around and over.

In and through.

Around and over.

This is how it begins.

The colour is chosen.

The measurements are made.

The seasons are cooling,

The evenings leave a freeze.

Everyone has a beanie,

Now it’s time to think of me.

So, in and through.

Around and over.

This is the rhythm.

This is the first line — I am casting on.

A red beanie for me.

                     *

Take a step back.

My work is unravelled.

Five hundred steps gone.

Why, I must begin again.

                     *

I still want my red beanie.

I re-climb those red tinted stairs.

In and through.

Around and over.

Knit-knit, purl-purl.

Knit-knit, purl-purl.

I am determined.

I can be driven.

The will is mine.

I will see this through.

In and through.

Around and over.

In and through.

Around and over.

This is how it begins.

Alphabet Cards

Just now I finished making alphabet cards for my daughter. The cards can be played in a variety of ways. Whether it be reorganizing the cards or simply naming the letter on the card. The back of each card has a word and picture associated with each letter of the alphabet.

I am on a roll at the moment. The other day I knitted a beanie for a new born baby — getting ready for the cold weather. And next on my agenda is to make a skirt for dress ups (just to clarify — it's for a toddler, not me)

My Life In Point

So, where am I at this week?

• I am still reading Mansfield Park.
• Picked up an issue of Vogue.
• Have restarted knitting a beanie, after my toddler unravelled my original work. Turned a bad thing into a good thing and used the opportunity to alter my design and notes.
• I have been doodling some fashion sketches.
• Discovered that Mongolian flavoured sauce doesn't really do it for me.
• Started listening to Joan Jett and The Divinyls.
• Am wondering why I cannot see the extra chocolate on the Double Coat Tim Tams biscuit.
• Thinking of ways to decorate my daughter's hair clips.
• Watching Enterprise while I knit.

Fashion Doodles

More Fashion Doodles

My Creative Space...

On the first day of March Mother Nature literally flipped a switch and the gentle breezes let us know that we can finally breathe comfortably. These days I am more of cold weather person, and would be the last person to complain about chilly days. After all the cold weather means eating tasty hot dinners and drinking hot chocolate — Who can say no to that?


On a creative front, this week I have been doodling in my sketch book, knitting a beanie for my two year old (it'll match a skirt I recently made for her), reading Mansfield Park, and playing Tomb Raider: Underworld on my DS.


Earlier in the week my daughter and I sat down together with a cutting a gluing project. As you can see below.

Check out some other wonderful creative spaces over at Kootoyoo — My Creative Space.
Have a lovely day.

WIP It

I am still knitting a winter skirt for Gwennie. You can see the progress as per the above photo.


What else can you see in that photo?

• There is a sketch/art journal, which includes my knitting notes.
• There is a mess of wool — which my daughter got stuck into and had fun with.
• A dressmakers measuring tape, so I know when to stop knitting.
• And there is a library book, that I have just started reading — Ghouls Gone Wild by Victoria Laurie.

And Not a Stitch Dropped…

Yet!

The odyssey of a knitted skirt has begun. What you are seeing is a bit of the waistband. But the more it grows, the more I wonder if the double rib stitch would have been better suited for the drop of the skirt. Well, it is a work in progress after all.

Her Groove Back

I gotta say, it is nice to take a break from creativity, particularly at the end of the year when everything just seems to come to a head. The transition into the new year is often a time to take stock, and clear the cobwebs.
But by golly, after being in that la-di-da space long enough, I discover just how difficult it is to get the internal pendulum swinging again. Indecision, mental paralysis, artistic block, whatever it is you want to call it. It can be quite a hurdle to overcome.
Luckily last night I finally kicked those slow blahs and began thinking, drawing and planning. Now I am happy to say that I have myself a project to cover me for a few weeks. I will be knitting a skirt for my little girl — and it will be of my own design.

The Knitting Done

On the weekend I finished knitting the above baby blanket. I managed very well — only two ‘Oh crap! Did I stuff that up?’ moments. And even then I was able to fix my little mistakes. Overall the blanket is perfect.

Making It Handmade

Today I had a lovely afternoon out in the city. I had such a good time I didn't even mind the rain.

I won a free entry (thank you Pip, of Meet Me At Mike's) into the screening of Anna Brownfield's film Making It Homemade. It was a thought provoking film, and it was good for a few giggles. I even met the Director herself, who in true craft form decorated her hair with two knitting needles — it was very pretty.

The crafters who appeared in the film provided responses to questions that I subconsciously felt, but never knew how to answer before. I suppose watching this film helped me to understand the craft movement I am gradually being drawn into.

When I was sitting in the cinema waiting for the film to begin, I listened in to bits of conversation around me. One person spoke of her knitting — something that was meant to be a gift. She wasn't satisfied with how it was turning out, so she was going to start again. Another person spoke of friends attending the launch of a new comic book. Why am I mentioning this? Because I want to point out how a film about craft can draw in crowds of strangers who are actually creative and like-minded. You would hardly hear this sort of banter at the screening of a regular Hollywood film.

When the film finished I decided to buy the DVD of Making It Handmade. So glad I did. I can hardly wait to watch it again.

P.S. I am halfway through knitting the baby blanket.

P.P.S. What happens next? Who knows. My mind is brimming with sparks of potential.

New Knit Project

Today I began a new project. I am going to knit a baby blanket. Can you believe it? I know I can't. I am really excited about doing this. It will go to someone who is soon to be born. So I really want this to go well. Wish me luck (the kind that is hole free, and with no missed stitches).

Yesterday I borrowed three books from the library —

• Crochet: An illustrated pocket guide to over 90 beautiful patterns
• French Girl knits by Kristeen Griffin-Grimes
• Learn to Knit by Penny Hill

I like checking out a variety of knit/crochet guides. As I continue to search for the perfect instruction guide. ‘Perfect’ meaning easy to follow for the amateur knitter such as myself. It amazes me just how many intricate techniques that have been created for knitting and crochet work. A person could spend their whole lives devoted to this art alone to fully master it.

Mittens For Your Kittens

Last night I finished knitting for Gwennie her first pair of primitive mittens. Heavy emphasis on the word primitive, as I am still learning to knit. At the moment, following a knitting guide is like reading stereo instructions. So I made my own, very rough, guide to knitting mittens — and this happy snap is the end result.

Now Gwennie will have something to match her winter cap.

Mitt Knit

The days and nights are way cooler — Autumn has finally set in. So I decided to knit for my baby Gwen her own pair of mittens.

I can't wait to finish this project. This is my first knitting project where I am actually follow a pattern.

Fantastic news! I have added another product to my Etsy store. It is a shoulder purse bag and is the perfect thing for girls. It is a freeform knitted design with a soft cushy lined centre, and has the coolest celtic buttons.

To view this product, simply click on this link.