Monday, March 16, 2015

it's all about the craft

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Hello honey bunches!!!

My how time flies at this super busy time of the year. There's so much going on, so many stories to tell, too many stories to tell. I've been wandering around for a few days wondering where to start. So this is my answer - one short blog story at a time.

So this one, as you have most probably worked out by now, is all about the craft.

And let me tell you straight up, there's not an enormous amount of crafty opportunities on our farm over the harvest months, but still one snatches a moment whenever one can.

I knitted the socks at the top for Bren's Mum Rene.

I want to tell you about the yarn though. A few years ago, on our annual pilgrimage to The Sheep and Wool show in Bendigo, my farmer boy and I met a gorgeous girl called Jess who sold wool under the name sofTrope. I was completely smitten with all of Jess's wares but particularly a chunky hand-spun wool that we bought several skeins of and I came home and knitted them up into farmer boy beanies. A few months later I got an email from Jess letting me know that her friend had showed her my blog and that she in fact knew us, or rather her boyfriend knew us and had worked with us here at Daylesford Organics for a few years. Small world hey!

Anyway, back to the matter at hand, I bought the most beautiful golden wheat coloured socks yarn, sofTrope sock, in a Facebook destash. It's even more gorgeous in real life.

Golden wheat - Bavarian Cable socks ravelled here.

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These socks are for my farmer boy.

The other day I found myself with half an hour to kill in the city and wandered up to Morris and Sons for some cable needles. I was feeling a bit funny after a rather unpleasant exchange with a camera shop guy who didn't really want to talk to me when I couldn't remember what sort of camera I used but showed him with my fingers the size of the card that I needed the card reader for instead. No, it can't be a CF (compact flash) card because it doesn't have a flash on it I told him (oops). Yes, it's for me not for a friend I tried to assure him. No, I don't want to buy a crappy cheap one. Yes, I've taken the photos off my camera before......

After that, when I got to the wool shop I exhaled. I strolled around, resisted grabbing armfuls, found what I needed, went to the counter and the gorgeous girl talked me through plastic versus wooden and helped me make a decision.

Then she told me how gorgeous I looked!!!! My dress, my basket, my hair up with a paint-brush, my clogs and green tights. I fell in love and asked her if I could have a job and stay there forever and ever.

And as I was about to pay and unfortunately leave, I saw a pair of socks on the counter just like the ones above. When she told me they were knitted from a single ball of wool with no joins I knew I had to buy a skein for myself.

So I did. And I positively skipped out of there and forgot all about that camera shop man.

The farmer boy socks are ravelled here.

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The cupcakes are for my long overdue giveaway winners Reannon and Nell. Sorry lovelies, they're coming soon. x

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And then this arrived!!!!!

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Remember that New Year's resolution I had to knit a cabled cardigan this year? Watch this space.


So that's me all craft caught up.

How about you? What've you been making?


Wishing for you a kind and random compliment, they're the best!!

xx



36 comments:

  1. Yay! You're back! I missed you and your crafty ways. I am currently battling cupboard moths- yuck. But I did make a chocolate chia cake- it probably has moth babies in it. irk.
    Reges x

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    1. Oh thanks so much Reges!!
      And yum, I hope.
      xx

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    2. It actually turned out deliciously! Recipe here if you wanna give it a crack?
      http://delicioushealthwithalex.com/2015/02/12/chocolate-chia-cake/

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    3. Oh No ....if it is linen cupboard or clothes, just scatter some cakes of perfumed soap in among your things, Lavender is best even the very cheap stuff will do, crawlies just don't like it.
      If your problem is Pantry moths, there are herbal remedies for that, I am sure you will be able to find something on Google...good luck

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  2. Kate, you have a gorgeous way with words...and craft x

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    1. And you are the kindest and most gorgeous Jane!
      And I still wish you were on instagram.
      xx

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    2. me too! Come on Jane :-)

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  3. ACK ! Adorable socks Kate , I really should be brave and give them a go this winter !! I bought wooden circular needles last winter . What a goose that camera shop attendant was Pfffft , hugs x

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    1. Thanks honey, and you totally should. Youtube is your best buddy and I can only imagine the genius socks you'll come up with. xx

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  4. Your craft makes me swoon Kate. I can only dream of being as crafty as you! xx
    And please don't feel like you need to rush with the crochet cupcake. Whenever you have time xx

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  5. Los primeros calcetines que nos enseñas me parecen una preciosidad, me he enamorado de ellos !!!! , me gustaria tejerlos , si encuentro patrón en español los haré. El color de la lana es maravilloso y el diseño también. Con todo el alijo de lanas que te han llegado tendrás pura diversión, ¡¡¡ WoW que madejas tan bonitas !!!... ;)))

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  6. Nice with a complient to save your day:)
    Oh I have finished knitting the body of a cardigan, only to find, that it is too small. sigh.
    Am however also knitting on a shawl that, since it is a shawl, can't be too small or too big. Hurray;)

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  7. Hi Kate making cushions for new couches that are ordered 3 done 3 to do raindrop chunky from attic24 and a blanket to finish before the end of June as visiting friends in Newfoundland so busy busy xx

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  8. I can just see you in that outfit......and swoon for a copycat one for myself!!! :) (hair is too short for the paintbrush in the hair....crap.) We have a camera-man in town just like yours....he's all Canon and I'm all Nikon....and he is so condescending when I go in there, every time I swear I'll never darken his door again....and then I do. My fault. He's definitely not going to change. :( feel for you.

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  10. Lovely socks you've made! I'm glad the yarn girl was nice and turned your day brighter than that camera man. I've been crocheting baby booties and making a rag quilt for our baby to be :D

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  11. Not much crafting going on here as still teaching full time - I miss my days off to make and read!!!! X

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  12. Those socks are GORGEOUS. How kind of you to work through Socks from the Toe Up, showing me the best designs in the best colours! Aren't yarn shop people the best people? In ten days I'm flying to Grenada to see my mum and one of the first things I organised was my knitting. I'm away for 8 nights so that's at least two projects, right? A cardigan for me for the two 10 hour flights and hanging around the airport. And self striping socks for when I'm there because I can't knit anything too heavy in 30+ degrees. And maybe an extra ball of yarn for socks because I did get stuck there once, when the icelandic volcano erupted, and well, you never know.
    MsZebxx

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  13. Sounds like Morris and Sons can really put the "therapy" into retail therapy! Your knitting inspires me. I mostly crochet but I am really getting the itch to make a jumper from actual Australian grown and spun wool. The socks are gorgeous- maybe I should start with something that size....I'm sure I slept on that dress fabric when I was little :)

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  14. Hi Kate, on the subject of knitting... I love knitting...but do not like to knit with acrylics. Any recommendations for good places to find more natural materials for a reasonable budget? I am new to all Australian made yarns. Cheers! Emma

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  15. for some reasons those camera card things never EVER register in my brain. I don't know why, I don't what I need and yes, I take photos all the time. Poo to the 'helpful' camera guy and hooray for gorgeous wool girls!
    LOVE these socks Kate...all of them.

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  16. such a lovely post ! and your socks are so beautiful, knitted a pair too, always nice to have ;-)
    x

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  17. love those lime coloured or are they yellow? socks - glad the nasty camera shop person wasn't your last stop for the day...

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  18. Our world definitely needs more kindness that's for sure! Thank goodness for the wool shop lady!

    I love all your knits. I'm working on my tea leaves cardi. I had to unravel some when I found a mistake. I'm just past the top bit of the pattern working down towards the armholes.

    I can't wait to buy the Slow mag this week!

    Enjoy the rest of your week Kate. I hope people are kind. Much love, Julie xo

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  19. Or is it all about the clogs?!!! Must admit I have a clog obsession and adore them with tights, can you tell me what clogs you have and if they are comfortable for a bit of walking? Need a good recommendation before I spend my hard earmed pennies. Love your blog Kate!

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  20. Very, very cute girl with tons of woll ! Such a nice blog... Cheers Gitta

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  21. I have been admiring those gorgeous socks and loving the color and how it pops the cables. Bren's socks look great too. Wouldnt it be ideal to work in a yarn store and see and touch all those gorgeous yarns, new pattern books and see people's projects too.

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  22. Isn't that a great little story :) I can picture you in that wool shop, hehehe....as for me, well funny you should have a craft post as I've just posted my very latest 'happy flower' crocheted blanket that I am happy with. Kate, those socks at the top of this post are just de-vine!!! Clever, clever and kind lady you are!!

    Jan x

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  23. that Ms Gusset of the pink hair is truly amazballs - and that wool knits up a treat - can't rave enough about it - I just finished Amanda and LOVED the wool - planning another 2 tonofwool projects
    And love all of the socks too

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  24. The socks are great! I am working on two crochet baby hats, my first knit sock, and a whole host of other things.

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  25. Wow!! those socks are gorgeous (both pairs)! I've been knitting multi-colour socks for years but I've never come across the idea of doing both at once. I will have to give that a go!
    I love reading your blog BTW, many thanks for your lovely pictures and words to go with, and all the thought you put into your posts. All the best from Bath in England.

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  26. What a lovely parcel of gorgeous thick wool!
    Sales people can be so unfriendly and rude at times, can't they? A wool shop sounds like perfect therapy. My Mum and sister were in Melbourne two years ago and dropped into Morris & Sons and brought me home some beautiful Merino which I am still knitting into a jumper. I'm determined to get it finished this winter!

    Hope you're having a good week,
    Sarah x

    PS I've sent you an email Kate and just thought I'd let you know here in case it goes to your spam folder xx

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  27. Inspired! I've just started to teach myself how to knit cables (Good old Youtube!) and Im attempting a cabled beanie for Miss Tara. Wish me luck! x

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  28. Hi Kate, I'm all caught up now!!!!! Having gone back to the beginning of your blog I have now read every post! Crazy huh? But it was fun :)

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  29. Thanks for giving us a spotlight on some great locally made and sourced yarns. Nothing like the familiarity and comfort of a fabulous yarn to aid relaxation. Looking forward to seeing your cabled cardi when it's done.

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Thanks so much for stopping by...

I do read every single comment you leave and appreciate it very much, but I should let you know that I can be a wee bit on the useless side when replying to comments, that's just me, everyday life sometimes gets in the way....so I'll apologise now, just in case.

Kate XX

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