End of year wrap up!

So yes I haven't posted for a month now have I? Been entirely too busy up until the 19th of december. Been on holidays for a week now and very relaxed, it is brilliant to have a break. I'm a bit restless though, I'm missing my projects, my only creative outlet here is the knitting projects I brought with me. When we get back to dunners I'm sure I'll have extra incentive to craft and garden and play music again :D

So, goals for next year -

Crafting:

• Hand knit a vest
• Learn how to use knitting machine - socks in the round, fair isle, jumpers etc.
• Make another quilt big enough for our bed
• Sell more of my creations, go to more markets, find something that sells
• Learn how to use the inkle loom
• Try new recipes

Other:

• Perform with the choir playing accordion
• Get a bike and use it to get around
• Try busking with the accordion
• Costumes! Make some more costumes for local theatre :)
• Get P's so I can drive!
• More gardening and preserving, brewing etc.

Also we are going to get into the homebrewing next year, and excitingly, osk got a mushroom growing kit for xmas, so we'll do that too!

 Got a few sewing projects I'm already planning in my head - like the doctor who coat.
 From the 6th doctor, woollen with all different panels of fabrics.

 Got the perfect fabric for this one :)

Looking forward to settling in our new house and setting up a crafting room for myself, what a treat after using the edges of our bedroom for a year!
It's going to be another interesting year!

Projects on the go now

Yep, been busy. Searching for a new rental place, making xmas gifts, sewing my own projects, seeing friends, packing for the holidays and packing up things where we are now. It's kind of fun in a way but really tiring. Thankfully I have plenty of time to get this stuff all done :) I don't know how people cope being so busy all the time. No space to breathe!

Lately these have been my projects:

Mitten blank all dry and ready to knit!

Close up detail, and yes it is really that bright. No problem with kinks in the yarn when knitted up, they dissapeared fine. Quite nice to knit from a piece of fabric rather than a ball.

This is my lace chevron crochet vest. It really needed something to bring the fronts together, the neckline would never sit right. This lace ribbon was the perfect solution, looks awesome and makes it into a wearable garment now. Thinking it might be a bit too long, so I might shorten it a bit.

A wrap around top, pattern designed by me. Fabric is from the fabric sale in june, when washed it leaked a lot of dye, so I'm glad I hand washed it. Made this for the xmas holidays, I'm sure the north island will be warm enough to warrant such a drapey, light shirt.

First mitten finished! Woo! I was so much fun to knit, and I never knit such fine wool... The combination of surprise colour changes and the unique constrcution technique made it fly by. Second mitt is on it's way and many more will follow. Brillant pattern : Circle mitts

Beautiful calendula flowers, drying these to make soothing moisturizers and lip balm.

A random patchwork project, part of the cover I'm making for my knitting machine. Should look great when it's done! Making squares into 3x3 blocks and sewing them together. Trying not to let any of the same fabrics sit next to each other.

So that's all this week, perhaps I will be back next week with some of these projects finished!

In progress:

• Circle mitts
• Knitting machine cover
• Xmas gifts

Finished this week:

• Batik wrap top
• Friend's baby quilt
• Niece's xmas present
• Mitt number one

Blanks

Been working on dyed blanks for a pair of mittens:

Knitting the blank on the knitting machine.. I've worked out how to use it properly now, just needed to figure some little tricks to make the process smoother. This is worked with a e-wrap cast on 50 stitches wide, tension 9 with a 4ply yarn. It's actually a really good machine and I'm enjoying using it.

This is the second blank I dyed, a combination of food dyes and the yellow is tumeric. Very messy, got dye everywhere really but the finished effect is definitely worth it.

First blank steaming away to set the dye... the colours mixed a bit but I'm very happy that it didn't just turn into a big muddy brown. Such vibrant colours!

I'm going to turn them into this pair of mitts: Circle mitts
After trying this technique I'm so excited to try making more for other knitting projects like shawls and socks and maybe even vests and jumpers! Having a knitting machine is so very useful :) All thanks to me dear Oscar for giving it to me for my birthday. I must knit him some socks on it.

In progress this week:

• Indonesian musician batik tunic
• xmas presents....
• lava flow cowl - about 90% at this stage now
• Summit shawl - Pattern

Finished this week:

• Kittyville hat
• Mitten blanks

Another baby blanket!

 

So one of my friends is having a baby in January and I decided the perfect gift would be a nice cosy warm woollen blanket. This one is made completely from scraps of fabric, leftover from old projects. Twas so very satisfying to chop through these squares...

Started it on Saturday and the top is nearly complete, just 4 more strips of squares to add now.
If you look closely you can see individual crosses with contrasting centres, almost like flowers. Going to use the self biding technique from here: Milkybeer for the edges, instead of bias like I usualy do. After this one is done, I should really do some xmas presents..

Busy busy busy! Picture heavy post

So I've been sick and busy with organising life (mainly renting for next year - ugh!) But feeling better and things are looking more positive now. Not much sewing going on these days, can't seem to get back into it :/ But I might as well post pictures of the Macbeth costumes!

It was great fun to be involved in this project and the people were a joy to work with, you guys rock!
Thanks to Sophie Macduff for helping out when I needed it and getting me into this project in the first place!
This is the first time I have made costumes for a play and it was amazing to see them worn onstage by the actors.

All pictures and designs (C) Nina Duke Howard 2013

Hecate's dress, by far the most fun to make! The pointy bits are held up by feathers which are threaded through the bias binding. Designed to have the look of a corset but with much more room to breathe.

2nd witches costume, badger witch! Had fun making the fur sit wildly on the shoulders and adding a sleeve to one side.

1st witches costume, Wild cat witch. Drafted from scratch this one had a completely different style. The shiny fabric on the sleeves and claw like additions on the neck really caught the light on stage.

3rd witches costume, Owl witch. This one was done last and suitably rushed a fair bit, it got changed a lot at the last minute and looks quite different now. Better actually!

It has feather stems in the shoulders to help hold them up, a bit like wings.

And now onstage! Yay! The headress was an impressive addition to the dress, really brought Hecate's goddess like character alive :) The dress fit her perfectly.

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Dry ice cauldron/keg looked very convincing on the night, everything was blue light creating a sinister atmosphere. (media speak coming through here)

The photos that I was allowed to take on dress rehearsal night turned out very dark indeed, not sure if they show the costumes to their full potential, but that's what the witches scenes were meant to be like.

Ah you witches were fantastic, such sly cackling you did!

Macbeth and the witches with projection in the background.

 Hope to do more costume work with the Globe in the future! What fun it was, and good practice for my dressmaking skills. The most satisfying part was taking people's measurements and creating clothing that fit them, without fittings, but having them fit perfectly anyway. I didn't know I could do that before :)

Off to bake some bread and play accordion, then I have a whole evening to do crafty stuff, sewing and knitting again!

In progress this week:

• Kittyville hat - for watching adventure time in, need a cute hat for that. Rav link
• Lava flow cowl (nearly finished I think)
• Knitting machine - teaching myself how to do different techniques and having less problems i.e knitting coming off the machine and unravelling itself. Can now do a proper non-raveling hem and cast off.
• Accordion - teaching myself Amelie songs, two half learned now meaning that I know how to play them, but my technique isn't up to speed yet. Here's a link of a talented accordionist playing this beautiful music: La Valse d'amelie
• Sewing............ anybody there? Actually a quilted knitting machine cover made with this quilt: Flower hexagon quilt

Finished this week:

• Nada. Life has taken over but I am still doing creative things, how else does one stay sane?

Spring in our garden

Yesterday was such a beautiful sunny day I had to spend it outside in the sunshine, no point staying inside on a day like that! So bluetooth headphones, sun glasses, hat and sunscreen were donned and I headed out to capture what spring has done to our garden. Yes my head was rather over encumbered.. These shots are the only ones worth including, the sun was so bright that it washed out most of the pictures. I shall take some pictures of the more interesting plants in the evening light.

 

 Beautiful Aquilegias - this is a two year old plants, taken as a seedling from last years rental house's jungle like garden. They seem to grow like weeds around here in Dunedin. This one is rather subtle, but still beautiful, was amazing trumpet shapes they have!

Borage - Always loved borage, in the house I grew up we always had some in the garden and the bees love it :) Great for planting next to vegetables that need pollination. These plants have been going all year and have taken over the garden bed, smothering all weeds - excellent! I had to cut some back just to give sun to the seedling growing in front of them.

Happy mister gnome guarding the bok choy....

Rhododendrons - They are everywhere in October! Orange, pink, purple, red, yellow, pink, salmon, white and cream, every colour imaginable really. Some have a very nice scent, but they don't last long as cut flowers, they just flop. Wonder how those crazy trees in St Clair are doing? They were like a blanket of magenta... 

Flower bed, marigolds of multiple colours, the russet ones are my favourite. I get my seeds from Kings seeds - excellent quality and price. My brother got me a 50 dollar voucher for my birthday last year, I easily got all the seeds I could want, and I still have plenty left. Heartily recommended!

Haven't done a project list for a while so here goes:

Completed projects this week and last two weeks (I've been busy!)

• Brothers birthday gift - bass strap
• Oscar's birthday presents - Funky fisherman pants and high vis bag cover
• Chevron lace cardigan
• Indian print coat
• Blue ikat skirt
• Red river gloves - unraveled the half fingers to make fingerless mitts instead, much more comfortable.

In progress this week:

• Lava flow cowl
• Purple cashmere shetland lace scarf
• Xmas presents (have to remain secret unfortunately, members of my family read this blog!)
• Kittyville hat to replace old one
• Planting out pumpkins, basil and cosmos.
• Learning how to use the knitting machine
• Learning new songs on accordion

A new look and some photos

Well Macbeth is over now! It was a hugely successful production, full of passionate and creative people and great to be part of it. I think I can only do it justice if I post about it later when I'm less tired.

Think that this blog needs a new look. The colours and pictures don't really strike my fancy anymore, so it needs a change, should be done today.

I'll simply leave you with some pictures of things I've seen in the last week and or done.
That should do for now :)

 Oscar's kite flying high in the sky

 Low clouds clinging to Mt Cargill

 Spectacular cloud layerings from our balcony

 Wow, approximately 5min later..

My new knitting machine, Empisal knit and weave master KH90. A wonderful birthday present from my dear Oscar :D

More detailed pictures of Macbeth and current projects, presents and gardening soon.

Another week went by...

Where have I been? It's hard to keep this blogging thing up when you're busy doing so many things!

Been preparing for the market day which I'm happy to say was a success, despite the rain and how long a day it was. It didn't quite have the hype and excitement that I remember from markets like the Bendigo wool show, but that's a completely different event. I sold two things, my first sold items of the year! Perhaps a market where the customers are a bit more relaxed with their money will be better. Students are very thrifty, I guess they have to be!

 Here's a mobile photo of my stall, not the best! But as I was carrying everything to the market without a car, a camera was just another thing to carry. There was a stall selling cakes for a charity and they were amazing, must get a recipe for ginger slice now :)

 This is a lovely cat in our neighbourhood, an old ginger one. He/she loves being scratched under the chin and was so happy that it leapt up into my lap and started digging it's claws in! Bit ouchy so had to put kitty down on the path. One day, one day we'll have our own pets again, but till then we can always say hello to the cats and dogs in our area.

In other news the costumes are finished! Just in time for dress rehearsals next week, yay! Photos of the costumes on the actresses with full make up will appear here in a few weeks. So now that market day and Macbeth costumes are finished, I am free pretty much! To play accordion, garden in the lovely spring weather, perform with the choir and sew new and different projects. Excellent!

Projects finished this week:

• Hecate's dress
• Owl witch dress
• Oscar's birthday present
• Market day preparation

Projects on the go now:

•  Birthday and xmas presents for my family
• Chevron lace cardigan
• Planning for new projects!

This week whizzed by!

Well, I've been so very busy I haven't done much crafting at all this week!
What with making costumes, cleaning, going to parties, practicing choir, getting an accordion, going to the community gardens, cooking, etc etc there's just been no time.

But I can post about the accordion!

A 21st birthday present from my parents (my dad searched it out and got it) two weeks early it is amazing! NZ post really outraced themselves this time; sent at 12.00 on Wednesday from Auckland, arrived at 12.30 the next day in Dunedin! Couldn't believe it when they knocked on the door with the package :) Not sure how old it is, but it is restored very well, it works beautifully.

Tis a serenelli bass 48 piano accordion. The name is a bit faded on the front as you can see. Learning now how to play the bass and piano together, in a very basic way. It's a lot of fun to play! Can't really remember where I got the idea that I'd like one, but always liked accordions for their sound and style. Not to mention how interesting they are to play, at least three things you have to do to play them, work the bass buttons, play the keys and open and close the bellows. I'm not going to get bored ever again I think now. I realise now that I was holding it wrong, since learnt where the straps go, not over the keys derp!

Thank you mum and dad for such a wonderful present! I don't deserve any xmas presents now!

Also new, a paper lantern that we've finally installed in our room, looks like a great full moon when it's lit up :)

Should be back soon with more updates, gardening and craft and market going ons...

Nina

Tea cosy and misty sunsets

Ah another productive and busy week! Mostly spent on Macbeth costumes, they are coming along nicely now. I started and finished a tea cosy, which I think I got too excited about really... but it's very useful. Osk and I were out skip hunting and came across some really good finds - a bunch of good coat hangers, a perfectly working mouse which helps when using a laptop and a teapot. There's something about spring that makes people want to throw out a heap of stuff, mostly rubbish but some useful items that work just fine. So, the teapot needed a cosy, that way it would look a bit nicer and also keep the tea warm long enough. I've thought it was a good idea ever since I showed Oscar's mum how to make one, but never owned a teapot.

The pattern is Scalloped lace tea cosy by crochet roo. Found the stitch pattern incredibly confusing to begin with - but a photo step by step tutorial by a fellow Raveler helped a lot. The outcome is a really thick and insulating cosy that looks awesome and used up most of my scrap yarn. Think next time I'll try another pattern, like one from this book:

Last few days the weather has been quite strange, very low cloud, mist and a variety of wind, calm, sunny and cloudy. One evening the mist was taking over the surrounding hills while the sun was setting, quite spectacular! Cabbage trees look magnificent against the sky, but then again so do all trees. This particular tree attracts plenty of beautiful Kereru pigeons that like to eat the fresh growth as the tree flowers. Out kite flying we've noticed that they can do amazing swoops and dives, sort of like planes doing tricks in the sky. Amazing birds!

Quite enjoying the use of a camera again :) Haven't done much photography for a while.

Planning on selling some goods that haven't sold on Etsy at the next market day, hoping it goes well!

Projects on the go this week:

•  Macbeth costumes - One finished, one awaiting fitting, one half done and one not yet started. 4 Weeks to go! Or less I believe...
• Gran's bedcover - 5 doilies to go now! Must have sewn on about 55 by now.
• Christmas presents.... well planning anyway.

Projects finished this week:

• Tea cosy
• Resizing jeans
• Planted spring veggies and flowers, weeded bed full of nasty dock and buttercup :)
• One Macbeth costume

Baking done this week:

• Banana cake with lemon icing
• Date slice with lemon icing
• Lemon delicious. 

(All consumed within 12 hours of being made)