Knitting and Nest!

 I borrowed these gorgeous books from my fabulous local library and I'm loving them both! I totally adore knitting cardigans. The book Glamknits is by Stephanie Japel who is running the e-course I'm currently doing(yes, I couldn't resist after-all!). The course /www.craftsy.com/class/Knit-Lab-Fit-Your-Knits/27.
I've only done a couple of lessons, but I'm finding them fabulous and it is so refreshing to find a course that is not aimed at beginner knitters. She really gets down to the knitty-gritty of shaping and different ways to achieve shaping for different shaped bodies. She also shows examples of sweaters with different shaping. I'm really loving it -only finding the time to sit without distractions and give it my full attention has been hard with three teenagers as it is school holidays! I thnk I might be doing the knitting-in-the-round hat course too once I've finished this one.

Also, I finished off the test-knit and sent it off. It was a bit hard on my hands, but a nice simple knit. I've been dying to get back to my lace though and have just enjoyed a row of nupps on my Annis.

 My garden is so bare and wintery. I found this gorgeous little sparrow's nest in amongst the rose branches today. It is so delicate and precious! It amazes me how beautiful it is. It's like a work of art in my own garden!

I'm totally loving all the comments on my blog! Thank-you to all of you who leave a little comment, it brings a smile to my face every time!

Estonian Lilac Leaves Shawl Finished!:-)

 Oh la la! I'm so happy with my shawl! It has been a long, learning and emotional process, but it is finished and I am very happy. It is so so soft and light.

 This is me grafting the lace edge on with kitchener stitch. It took me a long time to do this and I was very nervous about it. I didn't want it to look like an obvious join.

 Whilst blocking, I pulled out the nupps a little. I love the lace edging.I was really nervous blocking it, as it stretched so much when wet -I thought it was a disaster at one stage as I couldn't block it properly with pins and ended up just gently "massaging" it into shape and then letting it "relax", where it seemed to shrink back to size. I have certainly learned a lot from this shawl!

It is Mother's Day here in Australia and I have been very spoilt by my teenaged girls! I wish you all a lovely day full of creative inspiration!:-)

Creative Space: Still Knitting!

 

This is my creative space! Still knitting away! I'm determined to finish this shawl by the end of next week, as I have many more exciting projects to start! I just adore Ravelry and spend way too much time there looking at patterns and groups. I'm also in love with the website www.earthfaire.com. I'm surely going to have to make a purchase there shortly! I bought the lovely yarn I'm knitting this Lilac Leaves Shawl from Yarn Soft. A fabulous Australian store in W.A.

Check out my swollen arthritic ankles in my gorgeous new gardening shoes! They are a lovely purple (the shoes, not my ankles!), and I have not taken them off since I got them! I've spent many an afternoon sat happily knitting this shawl as the arthritis in my ankles, knees and hips is particularly bad at the moment. I do have to get up every 5 rows or so to stretch and bend!

 This red rose is growing in the midst of my veggie patch quite happily! The colour has brightened my day!:-)

Beetroot is growing in the patch also -although getting eaten by something I see! Golly I love my shoes!

Keep up with the creativity and visit Kirsty!

Creative Space: Blocking Lace

 

This is me blocking the lace scarf "Ulla's Scarf" from Nancy Bush. I put lots of pins in it then prompty took them all out again and just kept pushing and pulling it into place.I used two fairly fluffy towels on the kitchen table.

I really love the pattern in this scarf. It is the lily-of-the-valley pattern.

 Now I can get to starting the Lilac Leaves Shawl from the new book "knitted Lace of Estonia" by Nancy Bush! I'm going to buy some yarn online today in a sage green, 2ply merino wool for it! I'm so excited! It took me days to decide which pattern to do (Hubby and kids were not very helpful in deciding on a pattern!). I finally decided on the lilac leaves after choosing the yarn!

dahlias

Here are a couple of shots of dahlias from the Show on the weekend. Just gorgeous! I have none in my garden, but am thinking of getting some! I hope you are having a creative week! Don't forget to scoot over to www.kootoyoo.com for some inspiration!

OMGolly! It arrived!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The patterns inside are just divinely exquisite! Ahhhhh, to decide which one to start with! Woops, actually I will finish the Ulla's scarf first! Ohhhhh, that means I'm on the mission to find and buy some lace wool!:-)