Stripey Antlers

Funny how all these five reindeer have stripey antlers.  It wasn't planned, I just made each part one after the other.  If it ended up one antler would be green, then that would be fine.

Dessert Swirls

I made these yesterday for a dessert treat.  They are from Paul Hollywood's book and I can't remember the name.  They are a danish pastry with a custardy filling, sultanas and cinnamon, an apricot glaze and topped off with lemon icing.  The pastry is quite a chore to make, rolling and resting, rolling and resting.....  But they are quite tasty.

The Italian Boyfriend

    

  

  

  

The second commission, The Italian Boyfriend is a skier an mountain climber.  He can be removed from the wrapped ball and stand alone.  I was going to add all the mountain climbing equipment, but quite liked him as the gentleman skier.  The suitcase hangs below the ball and has his shirt, headband and mittens (I showed those in a previous post).  I have also included the photos I received to work from.

Teeny Tiny Workers

  

  

  



  

I can now reveal the commission pieces I was working on.  The first is a power station, which is in Santiago, Chile, and where all the teeny tiny people work.  The core is a large wrapped ball.  The people are standing on a wreath platform.  I have included the two working photos.  To get the rest of what the powers station looked like Piers helped me find it on Google Maps.

Another Sock Reindeer

Using a different self-striping sock yarn, double, this reindeer is similar but different to the others.

A New Book, a Reindeer and some Ball Winding

  

Yesterday was Sit & Stitch at Can Do Books.  I bought a lovely new book filled with lots of lovely knitting stitches.  I crocheted the little reindeer.  Then last night the computer was doing an update, so I wound yarn into balls.  The eucalyptus, on the left, and four balls i bought at Fibriesmith on Saturday at the garage sale.

Knitted Reindeer

  

All the other reindeer have been crocheted, this one is knitted.  I used a self-striping sock yarn.  I thought I should knit it to see how the pattern would come out on a small item.  Not really sure how I feel about him.  Crocheting one now to see if the pattern works the same.  The yarn is West Yorkshire Spinners, Fairy Lights.

Handspun Reindeer

I made this reindeer out of some yarn from the cheap bag of hand spun I bought the other week at Handspinners and Weavers Guild.  There was only enough for one reindeer.  The yarn was quite uneven and I had to use a larger hook, but he turned out with a rather gnarly look.  And rather large ears.

...39...40...

I am counting the little reindeer, but I don't have a final figure that I am aiming at.  As many as I make will be the number.

Eucalyptus Dyeing

  

A very large gum tree near us dropped a branch in the recent winds.  I went over with my pot and snips and filled it.  I dyed the wool in a slightly different way to usual and simmered it for longer.  The mordant was citric acid.  Loving the rich brown.  It will lighten a little when dry.  I have slightly felted the yarn, nothing that can't be fixed, but it will make winding into a ball take a bit longer.

Another One

Little reindeer with Koolaid scarf.  He is a little bit fluffy because he is crocheted in alpaca from Bendigo Woollen Mills.

Old Book of Poems

  

  



This lovely old book arrived yesterday.  Full of lots and lots of lovely illustrations.  It is a first edition, dated 1872 and it has hardly been read in all those years.  Mary Howwitt's Poems:  Birds and Flowers.  Sketches of Natural History. Illustrated by Giacomelli.  It is hard to photograph, but even the gold page edging is in excellent condition.

Reindeer Jumper

  

A reindeer made for the colourful jumper and matching beanie.

Wool Winder

It was my birthday yesterday and one of my presents was this lovely wooden wool winder.  And thanks for the yarn Jo, I had something to wind with my new toy.

Jumper Knitting

The little jumper is coming along, but there wasn't any done yesterday, I wasn't very well and there wasn't much of anything done.  But feeling better today, so back to it.

In The Garden

The yellow clivia is flowering.  We didn't know we had a yellow clivia.

Koolaid Dyeing

  

The skeins wrapped into very nice balls.  The colourful one is being knitted into a little jumper, quite like the colour mix.

Spinning Finds

Went to the Textile Bazaar at the Handspinners and Weavers Guild yesterday.  Bought a niddy noddy, a pair of deadly combs and some handspun yarn, all very cheap.

Bit of Bling

Even reindeers like a little bit of bling.

A Reindeer and A Book

Yesterday was Sit & Stitch at Can Do Books.  I made one reindeer and bought the new book by the Luna Lapin lady.

When Size Doesn't Matter

These little reindeer are very forgiving.  The little one on the right is three rows short in the body, making him a little smaller than the others of the same yarn and hook size.  I got distracted.  But it doesn't matter, he is just as cute as all the others.

New Wool Shop

My friend told me about a new yarn shop, Yarning Place, that opened in Vernon Street, South Kingsville a little while ago, but I hadn't been.  Piers had a doctors appointment, which is in the same street, so I thought I should go along and have a look.  Lovely shop, lovely lady, very friendly shop dog, and I came away with a couple of balls of yarn.   Fustion Sulco, a mix of baby llama and lyocell.  It is lovely and soft with a bit of a sparkle.  Made a little reindeer last night.

Reindeer

The commissions are finished and it's back to reindeer making.

His Bags are Packed, He's Ready to Go.....

Well nearly.  Just a few more things to make and the Italian Boyfriend will be ready for delivery.  He has a clean white shirt, a knitted headband and a pair of mittens in his suitcase.

Teeny Tiny Gecko

Piers found this little fella in our garage.  That is the edge of my shoe for comparison.  We are a bit worried it will be a snack for one of the birds we encourage into our yard.