blue bottles and blue noro....

...apec long weekend meant a lovely mini-break down the south coast. Rain and beaches covered in blue bottles meant time spent knitting indoors. In honour of all of these events, I decided to knit my south coast/blue bottle inspired noro scarf:

karma.

Last week I received a notice that I had a package waiting for me at the postoffice. I rarely get home before closing time, and so was unable to pick up the package. Worrying that they may send it back to where it had come from, today I made a point to leave work straight away and get to the post office before it shut. I didn't know what the package would be...I had ordered some lovely fabrics, but I was sure they had all been delivered already. This made it even better - certainly there is nothing better than a surprise package! I was over the moon when I opened it to find this:

sent all the way from Canada - five gorgeous skeins of Habu! I also received a lovely pattern for a "Feather and Fan" scarf. I think I'll use the lovely buttery yellow colour. This must be my reward for giving those lovely fluttery flowers I made on Sunday to all my girlfriends at work. Now to get those 2mm needles...

two more.

make this.

I found great instructions to make lovely fluttery fabric flowers here. Now - rather than cleaning and doing work that must be done for Monday - I am making one for all my friends.

a rainy sunday....

...means madly knitting baby blankets. Last week delivered two birth notices from girlfriends who are already quite far along. Being ambitious, addicted to knitting, and somewhat limited by only being able to knit squares or rectangles, of course I ran to the shop to get some yarn to make baby blankets. This is the one I am working on now. The yarn is just beautiful and it's called Zara Filotura di Crosa in a deep chocolate brown. I made the pattern myself, which really was very simple, but I am pleased with myself nonetheless. I cast on 125 stitches and then left 4 on each side for a garter stitch border. The rest is worked in stamen stitch, a 4 row-repeat pattern, which makes these lovely little wonky lines. What a lucky baby.

vintage buttons.

Friday afternoon brought an invitation to a co-worker's house for a cup of tea. Whilst the tea was lovely, even lovelier was when she brought out her treasures: boxes and boxes of vintage lace and buttons and fabrics! This provided everyone with hours of fun rummaging and oohing and aahing. I managed to leave with this gorgeous stash of beautiful vintage buttons, some even on their original card. Thanks Lyn, I love them!

lovely mail.

Today I received some beautiful yarn I ordered from colinette.com. I just love the bright blues and sandy browns. The yellow yarn is called 'peaches and cream', and it's something I bought for my yarn swap buddy. After seeing how exquisite it is, I don't want to part with it! All the yarn came in a brown envelope that said "Please do not bend." I thought this was wonderful, but also quite strange. I've found a pattern for a hat and mittens I'd like to try knitting, so I took a photo of it, along with the yarn I hope to use. I will have to mentally prepare for this one - all I've ever made to date are a few squares (craftily sewn together to make a tiny toque for a friend's baby girl) and scarves of varying stitches and lengths. Certainly no increasing or decreasing. Wish me luck!