six and a half stitches

HERE THERE AND EVERYWHERE

I don't even know where the last week (more than a week??) has gone. A high powered whirlwind of stress at work, not feeling so great, organising Max's birthday party, wrapping presents, baking numerous cakes for numerous birthday celebrations, shopping, catering, cleaning. And in amongst all that, a wee little bit of going-to-the-post-office.

I'm in awe that my child has made it to 3 intact, and is growing up to be a fine example of a good human being. His laughter and jokes are beautiful, his smile is warming and pure, and his love of trains unerving from day to day. Spurred on by Kelly's suggestions a while ago (before christmas, I think), I tracked down a supplier for Automoblox cars and bought Max a couple of them - they are so cool it hurts. They make up for the fact I have failed miserably as a mother and have not finished Max's qilt despite there being enough time, and it nearly being finished to the point you'd laugh how close I am. But I do have a damn good excuse why it still lies unfinished, but that's for another post where I actually do finish it and explain what happened in the interim. I cn tell you it's had something to do with heat and sweaty fingers not being condusive to hand sashiko quilting the worlds largest single bed quilt.

And I enabled myself with more hand dyed sock yarn from Claudia who I recently did a write up for on Whip Up. She has a beautiful intense and rich sense of colour and depth to her dying, and I'm just itching to wind these and see how they look as balls, and then knit them up. What has added to this wool is how I found it - going through my blog stats I found someone was reading my blog from Lichtenstein, and curious, I went over to peek 9I am intensely curious about who reads my blog. those who read in Turkey are next on my hit list). I found a beautiful blogger in Suzanne, who incidently has some amazing looking baked goods on her recent post.

This week I've been devoid of anything inspirational to say, but I hope I'll get back on track soon and show some projects. They're piling up, believe me.

POSSIBILITY

I'm in this wonderful place right now, full of secrets which aren't really secrets except for the fact I'm telling you they are, with projects underway, or about to be underway, which will be very beautiful, but which I can't actually show you except as little pieces of them. Take, for example, the assortment of photos earlier of blues and greys. I never explained them. Partly that was because they were explained over at flickr in slightly more detail, and partly it was because there's something about mystery that gives projects a life beyond the facts of Knit Pattern A and Sewn Pattern B which I like. I like to think you'll be looking at them and thinking of possibilities. It was also because the recipient reads the blog, and I want to show her the ideas, without showing her the end product.

And that's where I am right now. In a bit of a whirlwind of possibilities and ideas, and I'm taking you along for the ride a little too. If you stick with it, you'll see a path emerge over time, and then every little thing will make sense in it's own way. But I'm against revealing too much about any of the projects too soon. I like the little glimpses of completion, material, wool, pattern, and partly that is because those little vignettes are more powerful than the overall finished object, no matter how beautiful it is. They encompass an idea. But in time the object will become more important, and then I will reveal what it is exactly, and perhaps your ideas will be rewarded, or perhaps I will surprise you. So right now, we have vignettes. And snippets. And possibility. Today's possibility: Martas Yarn variegated 8ply wool in purples, pinks, sage greens, greys and lavenders. Cool, soft, comforting, calm. And Handpaintedyarn thick thin slubby wool in Paris Night colourway. 2 different projects. 2 different outcomes. Many possibilities.

DON'T EVEN ASK THE CALORIE CONTENT

There is nothing nicer than hand delivered chocolate chip cookies. The sort where the chocolate melts in your mouth, and the biscuit is buttery and soft and also melts in your mouth. Another Afternoon Tea installment, this time from Belinda, who also incidently tagged me for the 'four' post before this and who I forgot to acknowledge. I know what's coming to work with me tomorrow - thankyou!

FOUR THINGS

Four jobs I've had:

• Selling newspapers
• Selling Shoes
• Architect
• Mother (you can all weep now at the perfect scenario that paints)

Four movies I could watch over and over:

• Orlando
• Delicatessen
• Dr Zhivago - the original Omar Sherif version
• Notting Hill (I'm an incurable romantic)

Four places I've lived:

• Durham, UK
• Melbourne, Australia
• London, UK
• Sydney, Australia

Four TV shows I love:

• Top Gear (UK version)
• Grand Designs (sadly another UK show)
• Medium
• CSI Investigates

Four favourite places I've vacationed:

• Paris
• New York
• Lingiuelette - wonderful small italian village in the Ligurian hills which is so small it doesn't even get listed on maps. And I've spelt it wrong, I'm sure, but it has the most to die for trattoria which is completely at odds with the village itself in the quality of its produce, and next time I go I might actually enjoy the food and not want to throw it all up because of morning sickness. That was rather long winded wasn't it.
• Ellmau, Austria

Four of my favourite dishes:

• Sukiyaki
• Or maybe Okonomiyaki
• And lamb tagine with cous cous
• and not forgetting dark chocolate with orange essence

Four sites I visit daily

• Gmail
• Bloglines
• Statcounter
• Yahoo Horoscopes

Four places I'd rather be right now

• London
• The block of land at Erowal Bay (preferrably with a house miraculously built on it)
• Away from all distractions and heat where I can curl up and sew and knit
• The beach

Four people I'd like to tag:

I think pretty much everyone has been tagged haven't they??

SECRET PROJECTS

Some simple knitting, some simple cotton fabrics, my first foray into wool lycra mixes, gorgeous colours, and a gorgeous recipient.

SLICE OF PARADISE

I know the sun shines on dreams and hopes at the other end.

I wrote that in January, when dreams and hopes seemed a long way off, but knowing they would come back soon. Sometimes taking a step back, allows possability to re-enter your life, and allows you to refocus on what is important and what you really want to see happen.

When we moved back to Australia, it was with some specific lifestyle ideas in mind. Not that we couldn't have done those in europe, it just would have been different, and not as 'easy'. One of those ideas, was to build our own house on the coast, as a weekender. It would be our little chance to be free architecturally, and do something for ourselves, to be used for ourselves, and be passed on to our children.

Welcome to our little slice of paradise - the trees are staying, the house will tread lightly and we're very excited.

ANOTHER CHAIR, ANOTHER CORNER

I have an obsession - a very unfulfilled obsession - with chairs. I'd have an entire house of loose chairs given half a chance. Some of the forms and materials are so much more inviting than tables and sofas. I like to have them as little pieces of almost art, to make up for the fact we have no pictures up on our walls (except in the study). This isn't for want of trying on behalf of my husband, but more to do with my other obsession which is crisp clean walls unsullied by drill holes. To me clear walls suggest possability, whereas pictures on walls suggest permanence. Don't get me wrong though, I love pictures on walls, and I have a large collection of pictures and paintings to go on the walls which are slowly gathering dust in storage. I just can't seem to committ to the holes in walls thing. Back to the chairs. This corner of my house, is in Max's room, and is, quite honestly, the only square metre of uncluttered space in his room which isn't littered with toys. I can guarantee that just outside the photo frames, are train track pieces and lego. The chair is an Artifort Oyster chair, part of a pair, and the curtains, which I love, are a Cajsa Bratt for Ljungberg fabric. This end of Max's room has the most beautiful monochromatic light - helped by the greys and whites of the wall, chair and curtain. This photo hasn't been touched up. As a direct contrast, check out the other side of his room here. And more corners can be found over at flickr.

Have you been over to check out Whip Up??? Such a fantastic idea, with some amazing contributors, I think this has some really serious potential to be great and inspiring and I'm very proud to be a part of it.