coxendix

Woman's Weekly Knitted Cosy

2012-01-05T21:52:00.001+11:00

I only got one side finished before Christmas, but I got the other side finished before the new year.

It is enormously dense. It keeps the tea super warm.

Kochkor tea cosy

2011-10-05T01:51:00.000+11:00

I made a tea cosy for a friend on the Silk Road trip. I was supposed to finish it and give it to him on the trip, but ran out of time. So here it is, finished today (unless I decide to put leaves on it, but it barely looks like the daffodil pattern so I wonder if there is any point).

2011-10-04T01:59:00.000+11:00

I started this birch in Kyrgyzstan, right after I finished the blue Lacey Baktus. But from there on there was a lot of desert and hot and prickly and I put it away and barely looked at it until we got to the relative cool of Turkey.

Here I took it balloon riding in Cappadocia.

Here we are in the Aya Sofia in Istanbul.

And outside the Blue Mosque.

I finished it on the train from Istanbul to Bucharest, which is a shame, because I wanted to give it to a friend on the trip.

Not to worry, I shall carry it around until I find it a home.

Lacy Baktus

2011-08-09T01:59:00.001+10:00

It has been so hot that my knitting has slowed considerably. But I finished a lacy baktus and it is modelled here by its recipient. The order of photos is: 1. Looking at the baktus. 2. Demonstrating the manly way to wear the lacy baktus. 3 & 4. Demonstrating the 'high street' way of wearing it.

Traditional life in Kochkor in Kyrgyzstan.

2011-08-09T01:21:00.000+10:00

We saw traditional felt making in Kyrgyzstan and I added it to the other blog.

Some crafty things in Kyrgyzstan

2011-08-04T18:48:00.000+10:00

We went to the felt museum in Kochkor, Kyrgyzstan. These are some of the things I didn't buy. If they'd taken credit cards, I'd may have been seriously impulsive.

I am still mainly blogging over here, but I have another post of crafty stuff coming up.

Spinning wheel hiatus

2011-05-11T16:40:00.000+10:00

Remember that fleece? I spun three bobbins worth and then plyed them on a spindle.

I ended up with 160g of delicious squooshy grey yarn in a fat skein I didn't take a picture of. But all that is on hold now. I have started travelling and couldn't take the wheel with me.

I did take my drop spindles, though, and I am hoping that, when I get to Uzbekistan, I am going to find lots of women to teach me more about spindle spinning.

I am travelling overland from Singapore to Scotland and have four spindles, 450 grams of assorted unspun fibre (including 200g of Wendy Dennis polwarth/silk and 50g of some cashmere silk I picked up at the 2009 Sock Summit), two skeins of sock yarn, three balls of kidsilk haze and a ball of cashmere that I nearly finished knitting on the plane. I will be mainly updating somewhere else. If you are interested the blog is over here.

Good Fridays in Port Fairy

2011-04-23T23:37:00.000+10:00

Rain rain

2011-04-12T23:50:00.001+10:00

This morning I left the apartment in pouring rain, arriving at work drenched to my knees.

Tonight I went to see Sir Terry Pratchett OBE and it was marvellous

Then I went up to someone to ask if that was an Ishbel she was wearing and had she made it herself. She had, out of some Tosh Sock. She, in turn, complemented me on my Lacy Baktus and Rose Red.

Gosh, I love cold weather.

I'm so happy that someone built this

2011-04-11T20:03:00.000+10:00

Nobody tell my mother, k?

2011-04-09T16:20:00.008+10:00

Corriedale fleece for handspinning. Wilanjie Coloured Sheep. I am spinning straight from the bag, haven't even washed it. (And it turns out I remember a lot from when I was a little girl living on a farm with coloured sheep - I put down a drop cloth under the wheel before I started to catch all the stuff that falls out and I am finding it much easier to spin the raw fleece than carefully prepared roving).

I can't tell you how much fun I'm having

2011-04-08T16:50:00.000+10:00

I was getting up earlier anyway because of the change from daylight savings, so I decided to use that extra hour a day changing this:

To this:

Then this:

Trying new things (also known as, slavishly copying the Harlot)

2011-04-07T18:15:00.006+10:00

In which I saw a squirril and rescued a just-hatched butterfly from being trodden on

2011-04-06T23:02:00.002+10:00

What I did on the weekend.

2011-04-05T17:32:00.000+10:00

Meet my new wheel, Doris Rolland

2011-04-03T08:04:00.000+10:00

A few months ago, a friend was at the Woodend tip and saw a spinning wheel. She bought it from the nice tip men and gave it to me for my birthday.

I took it to the new home of the hand weavers and spinners guild yesterday morning (655 Nicholson Street [just as well I won't be in Melbourne much longer]) and it turns out that there was nothing wrong with it that a screw driver, a new drive band, two springs, some fishing line, candle wax, some sand paper, some machine oil and two hours of elbow grease wouldn't fix.

I had a lovely time restoring it [part way] to its former glory (I couldn't find any furniture polish - they didn't have any in the supermarkets I went to. I figure I will wait until I get home. Mum is bound to have stuff like that about somewhere).

And then a perfectly splendid time spinning. It is So Much Faster than the drop spindle (though I spin a much more consistent thread on the spindle at the moment, and Doris will not fit in my pack to go to Uzbekistan).

Green Spindle

2011-04-02T12:51:00.000+11:00

The next lot of yarn I am spinning on the spindle is from fibre I bought many many years ago.

I want to be able to add to this thread on ravelry, so I am taking pictures as I go.

It is taking a Very Long Time. But I got my spinning wheel fixed this morning, so as soon as I have finished getting the rust off/out and fix the drive band and the bit that goes over the spool, I'll see how that goes.

Spindle

2011-03-30T18:13:00.000+11:00

I've kind of stopped knitting so much

I've been spinning instead. I am hoping to use the spindle as communication device in Uzbekistan.

I have discovered a great thread on ravelry that has made me resolve to take before, during and after pictures of my spinning and knitting. This started out as some 70/30 merino/silk blend from Marta's yarns and ended as a cowl for mum.

Afternoons in Port Fairy

2011-03-17T17:09:00.003+11:00

Learning

2011-03-16T21:03:00.000+11:00

Having learned what happens when you cook squash in the microwave, I now find myself wondering what happens when you put an egg in the freezer.

Disturbing

2011-03-06T21:14:00.000+11:00

I always regard Easter eggs on the second of January with disbelief. I try to continue to not believe in them until the day before Good Friday because I have a terrible weakness for Red Tulip Elegant Rabbits and the best way to avoid buying them is to pretend that they are not there.

I felt safe acknowledging the existence of these:

Girl

2011-02-15T23:35:00.000+11:00

Olive and Harry

2011-02-13T12:39:00.012+11:00

Having made one for my great aunt, I promptly followed it up with one for her friend Peg.

My great aunt named them Harry (orange) and Olive (white) after her parents (my great grand parents).

I have Harry's nose, in case you were wondering.

Lamp - jibs

2011-02-11T23:18:00.000+11:00

Commonwealth Sheepdog Trials

2011-02-10T14:30:00.001+11:00

I missed the famous performing ducks in Monday's parade, but I'm hoping to see some good sheep herding tomorrow.

Old Life

2011-02-09T23:18:00.000+11:00

I have moved out of my flat. Moved most of my stuff into storage. Partly moved home and partly moved into a friend's flat. Started a new job.

I am not sure how much of my current contentment is due to not going back to a job I found trying, or because of having fun things to plan, but I am enjoying it a big lot.

Daffodils for aunty.

2011-01-06T11:09:00.000+11:00

Milk and Roses

2010-12-29T22:30:00.000+11:00

A friend just gave me a whole lot of roses from her garden. They are lovely and have a delicate smell. Between the two vases (teapots) is some milk.

That it is milk may not be obvious at first, but look closer. He was a gift from one of my students.

Angry worm

2010-12-24T11:12:00.000+11:00

Lygon Street

2010-12-23T10:42:00.000+11:00

Marigold Grafitti

2010-12-22T10:42:00.000+11:00

It's very sad, but I'm going to have to move house now.

2010-12-21T09:24:00.001+11:00

Because I can't get back in my front door.

Death?

2010-12-20T10:41:00.002+11:00

Watching you

2010-12-19T10:29:00.000+11:00

Ideas for Christmas ornament hanging

2010-12-18T16:36:00.000+11:00

Saturday morning

2010-12-18T09:32:00.003+11:00

Saturday morning I had two cats and they had one human.

Saturday afternoon I had no cats and they had six humans.

pop quiz

2010-12-18T09:00:00.000+11:00

When you find interesting mould in the fridge do you a) throw it away or b) take a picture of it and put it back to see how much it changes.

Brunswick Noses

2010-12-17T15:12:00.002+11:00

Last day today.

Eggplant shawl

2010-12-16T18:21:00.002+11:00

I finished the eggplant shawl a few weeks back and have been carrying it around ever since I blocked it to take a photo. Of course, by the time I got around to taking photos it no longer looked blocked and was all crumpled. I might try again.

Potentially visually offensive christmas gift.

2010-12-15T18:19:00.001+11:00

I am pretty sure that my Great Aunt doesn't read my blog. Actually, I am pretty sure she doesn't even know it exists.

We are having a big family Christmas for the first time in many many years. The herd has been thinned over the years and I think we are down to about 16 (unless I bring home a waif or stray from dancing). To simplify the present giving process, everyone is paired up for a present swap so that, outside immediate family, there is only one gift to work out.

I have gone the teapot/teacosy combo for my great aunt. I went with a vintage pattern and tried for a daffodil colourway. The name of the yellow is, in fact, daffodil, but one of my friends commented on the virulent nature of the cosy.

I still have to make some leaves and block it, and I have decided to knit a garter lining because I am not sure it will be warm enough otherwise.

I like to think it is 'cheerful'.

Ravelry.

Robot

2010-12-14T15:53:00.000+11:00

painting

2010-12-13T23:52:00.000+11:00

Yr 10s

2010-12-13T16:25:00.006+11:00

My Year 10s (I taught them year 11 Latin) surprised us with flowers and chocolates and a homemade card. I ate the chocolates before the photo, they were great.

Kids

2010-12-12T22:25:00.001+11:00

I am going to miss my kids so much.

One delightful cherub gave me this and it makes me ridiculously happy.

So this morning I did this, which just made me happier.

It was a fine day filled with tea cosy knitting, tea, and giving things a thorough tidy. It didn't involve any giving away of the cats because the lady who was supposed to come and pick them up today didn't.

Terrible post, do not look if easily offended

2010-12-07T21:45:00.002+11:00

My city cousin is staying with my parents in the country at the moment. Yesterday I got an email from her titled: "Greetings from your bedroom window!"

Which I thought was terrible.

Then tonight I get an email title "Weather report from the country!" I could see that there was a picture attached (but not what). I had been speaking to mum this evening after school and she mentioned that there had been torrential rain. I, always interested in the weather, opened the email with a great deal of interest.

And found this.

I laughed so hard I frightened the cats. I wonder if my cousin remembers the weather telling nut someone got one Christmas many years ago.

in the same place

2010-11-08T10:04:00.008+11:00

It looks like it is that time of year again.

Though maybe with fewer blossoms this year. Because of more rain?

New November

2010-11-07T13:04:00.000+11:00

My year 12s have done their final exam and it is all over. I have had an awesome weekend filled with chores and getting things done and a pi shawl and Laura Marling (thanks Lis!). And one really unfortunate date.

Still, good things have come out of both the year 12 subject, like Stephen Fry's 'Language', and the date, like I know that I definitely don't want to go on another date with him.

Ends

2010-10-30T09:39:00.000+11:00

A picture for my friends who hate weaving in ends. I was able to pretend that I found it therapeutic, most of the time.

I keep telling them they don't fit

2010-10-25T08:01:00.000+11:00

Online Dating

2010-10-24T13:52:00.013+11:00

Future Blog posts:

"Transferable skill sets, or: How teaching prepares you for going on three dates in one day."

"You said you were 39, but you look like my dad. No really."

"Self-obsessed woman-hater seeks sugar mama."

"What not to write in your first message."

"7 reasons you shouldn't be surprised that no one writes back."

"Sometimes 'Let's pay separately' means 'I like feeling independent', sometimes it means 'That was excruciating'. Here is 1 simple clue to help you guess which."

Thanks, mum

2010-10-24T08:52:00.006+11:00

Mum took some photos of the vest yesterday.

The day started cold and mucky, but picked up in the afternoon

This vest was super easy, but time consuming. Took me 6 months...

Duck Vest - Neverending

2010-10-23T07:35:00.000+11:00

At first neverending because of the diamonds (easy but fiddly).

Then I knit the bodice, tried it on, a little too small. I went for the classic 'oh, blocking will Make It Right', and knit the borders.

But there was no denying that it looked ridiculous, so I ripped. That was nearly the end of me.

Lack of yarn meant that most of the added fabric went into bewb shaping (those being the major ... problem after all).

It is still a little small, but there is no more yarn. I think, after yesterday's heat, it will be finished blocking, so I might try wearing it this morning.

P.S. all the ends were woven in as I went (it took about 40 minutes to weave in ends on a row of diamonds) and all I have to do is cut off the bits you can see in the picture.

ravelled

Herbivore

2010-10-22T16:48:00.000+11:00

The whole time I was knitting this yarn (and it started out as several projects before herbivore suited it) it was going to be for me. But then the colour was making me look a little jaundiced (or maybe that was just how I was feeling).

At any rate, I caught up with a friend whom it looks fabulous on and passed it along.

More cupcakes, more year twelves

2010-10-18T23:07:00.000+11:00

Tomorrow is my last class with my year 12s. I don't think I have ever had such a demoralising, dispiriting year. I approached today's class with a mix of dread and relief. I have been counting down since 64 to go. I went to see a therapist in May who charged me a lot of money, told me I wouldn't make it to November and confirmed all the stereotypes I had about therapists. Silly bint.

I have been planning baking cupcakes for a class of 12s I don't teach, but hadn't really considered mine until this morning. I got the guilts about all the lovely kids in the class. And then I went to class and all the lovely kids had got together and bought me a present and it turns out the lovely kids out number the others 17 to 3. A kid who wasn't supposed to be at school today turned up for the class just for the gift giving. I wanted to cry and throw up and it all fell a bit flat and felt weird because I couldn't say thank you and I couldn't say 'I loved teaching you guys this year'.

And now I have to go to bed.

pity this busy monster, manunkind,

2010-10-03T22:43:00.000+11:00

pity this busy monster, manunkind,

not. Progress is a comfortable disease:
your victim (death and life safely beyond)

plays with the bigness of his littleness
--- electrons deify one razorblade
into a mountainrange; lenses extend
unwish through curving wherewhen till unwish
returns on its unself.
A world of made
is not a world of born --- pity poor flesh

and trees, poor stars and stones, but never this
fine specimen of hypermagical

ultraomnipotence. We doctors know

a hopeless case if --- listen: there's a hell
of a good universe next door; let's go

e e cummings.

Mis

2010-09-30T08:31:00.002+10:00

How the cats think the holidays should be spent.

Little Red

2010-09-29T23:24:00.001+10:00

To: Brunswick

Well, little lady, let me elucidate here.

2010-09-28T18:46:00.000+10:00

The friend I was with asked if I'd started doing graffiti when she saw this.

Masala Chai

2010-09-27T15:38:00.002+10:00

The chai at Birdman Eating is intense, but pretty.

Under Milkwood

2010-09-26T16:31:00.002+10:00

Did I mention the ricotta hotcakes? With banana, coconut, vanilla bean syrup and honey yoghurt? Also, of all the chai I've tried in cafes, theirs is my favourite.

Under Milk Wood.

Lifting the blues

2010-09-26T12:33:00.003+10:00

I am almost as scattered today as I was on the first weekend of the holidays, but not quite as exhausted and I am not coughing up nearly as much, erm, stuff.

I re-thought my approach to the holidays this time. Usually I feel like the holidays are my opportunity to do all the stuff I don't get time to do during term. I have all these Ideas about Things that I should be doing. This time my daily goals were a little more within my grasp.

#1 get out of bed at some stage
#2 drink tea
#3 read a book
#4 be open to the idea of going back to bed if I need to

This does mean that I have spent most of the week either in bed or sprawled on the couch. But then the trip to get a pedicure left me needing a nap, so I am more or less at peace with the laziness. Plus, even though I set the bar so ridiculously low, I still felt a sense of achievement when I got to the end of the day and had done those four things.

Today I found this post on 62cherry. For 12 days her goals were:
#1 One espresso
#2 Walk at least one way to/from school
#3 Call a friend to see how they are doing
#4 No chocolate, cakes or biscuits
#5 Get out of bed and start the day at 6am
#6 Schedule time to do some hand sewing
#7 Write my morning pages
#8 Write a blog post here & on mixtape
#9 Work on Issue 13
#10 Leave comments on blogs i like
#11 Only eat home cooked meals
#12 Have porridge & yoghurt each morning

I have 7 days left of the holidays. So, in the next 7 days I will aspire to:
#1 Read a book
#2 Drink at least four pots of tea a day (only two caffeinated)
#3 Practice the guitar
#4 Walk to Milkwood for a[nother] baugette
#5 Dry my hair in the sun
#6 Try a new recipe
#7 Scale back the original plan of going through all the cupboards and dividing everything into keep/ give away/ throw away (and actually doing those last two). Change it to 'throw away at least one thing from each cupboard'.

Stanley Park seawall

2010-09-26T11:31:00.000+10:00

Milkwood

2010-09-25T21:30:00.001+10:00

Oh the baguettes, oh the ricotta hotcakes, oh the ham and mushrooms on toast, oh the spending half my holidays eating there, oh the baguettes!

yellow

2010-09-24T19:42:00.000+10:00

Blue

2010-09-23T18:51:00.000+10:00

Blue

2010-09-22T19:42:00.001+10:00

A friend convinced me to have a pedicure. It was the most ticklish thing I have ever done, but my feet feel awesome and I have blue toe nails.

More noses

2010-09-21T16:50:00.004+10:00

I love that someone has done this.

Carnivore

2010-09-20T16:50:00.002+10:00

This was such a fun pattern to make. In a burst of cleverness I called it carnivore because it is all in black... actually, now I think about it, that doesn't make any sense.

I love the yarn, too. I may or may not have purchased another skein on ravelry.

I have made myself one in the pesky skein of sundara that didn't want to be any of the things I tried making it into. It is a much more sensible colour for something called herbivore. Or squashed frog. I keep forgetting to take photos, though.

oops

2010-09-09T19:50:00.000+10:00

I was absentmindedly looking at the graffiti on the tables in class and asked my yr 12s the meaning of a word I didn't recognise. They dissolved into fits of giggles and I said 'Oh dear, I might just ask google, then.' And got a rousing chorus of 'NO!!!!'s.

One kind, bold student drew breath long enough to give a definition and I was reminded to never ask questions in class when I don't know the answer.

I have set a new record on how brilliantly red I can blush.

Evolution

2010-09-05T19:32:00.000+10:00

This was graffitied on the wall of the school on election day, but they got rid of it pretty quickly. I guess it doesn't matter if it is outside the school.

bald

2010-09-04T18:23:00.000+10:00

A penguin and his boy

2010-09-03T19:02:00.000+10:00

Magnolia

2010-09-02T18:42:00.000+10:00

Fitzroy

2010-09-01T18:39:00.001+10:00

pei

2010-08-28T21:14:00.000+10:00

pei

2010-08-27T21:09:00.001+10:00

Sea Fever

2010-08-24T21:45:00.000+10:00

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

By John Masefield (1878-1967).

Closing links

2010-08-23T20:11:00.000+10:00

spindle spinning 1

spindle spinning 2

no woman no cry

joss whedon on craft

garlic butter rolls

for when I steal my brother's guitar

should i spin

Evolution?

2010-08-22T21:53:00.000+10:00

A way to spend a week

2010-08-22T15:30:00.005+10:00

organised

2010-08-14T20:09:00.005+10:00

Today, when I went to buy another thermal top, I found a one piece ski suit on sale that was awesome and made me look totally pro. Alas, it was made for someone my shape, but about three inches taller.

On the way home I saw a magpie catch and kill a mouse. I always thought magpies were hard arse, and now I know. Don't mess with magpies.

The last few days have been a mad whirl where I have got twice as much done as there was actually time for. Now all I have to do is stuff the last few things in my bag, eat some food and wash my hair.

A busy knitter.

Fly

2010-08-04T20:03:00.000+10:00

Elf

2010-08-02T20:59:00.001+10:00

bug

2010-08-01T21:08:00.000+10:00

Knitting graffiti

2010-07-31T20:55:00.001+10:00

Rewards for good behaviour

2010-07-31T17:34:00.004+10:00

Today I woke early. Knit a diamond on my vest. Played with my poor neglected cats. Went in to school and marked for a couple of hours. Went to a cafe and marked for a couple of hours.

Was driving home down Sydney Road. Stopped at an intersection.

The car gave a death rattle and then the clutch was no more. I pressed it in a couple of times hopefully, pathetically. And then we waited for the nice tow-truck man.

Happiness

2010-07-23T12:11:00.000+10:00

"Happiness consists in getting enough sleep. Just that, nothing more."

— Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein

creep

2010-07-20T21:40:00.006+10:00

You're so fucking special,
I wish I was special.

But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo.
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here.

AFP and Radiohead.

I just bought Amanda Palmer's album because I love Radiohead and ukeleles. And Amanda Palmer is going to marry Neil Gaiman. And I can personally account for about 80 views of this clip. And because this is the way I want to buy music.

And her eyebrows are rad. And a little bit scary.

Castle

2010-07-18T21:15:00.001+10:00

Travelling

2010-07-17T21:10:00.002+10:00

I forget who I hate...

2010-07-16T21:08:00.000+10:00

farmin'

2010-07-15T20:07:00.000+10:00

Why life is good - XI

2010-07-15T18:05:00.001+10:00

Lentils are cheap and delicious.

Is it a worry that a lot of the reasons I'm coming up with for why life is good are to do with food?

Wave on.

2010-07-14T22:04:00.001+10:00

Why life is good - X

2010-07-14T20:00:00.003+10:00

Getting the year 11's accustomed to hearing the name 'Lesbia' then laughing at the name 'Lesbos'.

I just follow orders

2010-07-13T21:57:00.001+10:00

Why life is good - IX

2010-07-05T16:11:00.001+10:00

The cat chewing his toe nails.

This is actually kind of gross, but also a little bit fascinating. Like intestinal parasites. Or fairy floss.

Lucy

2010-07-05T08:23:00.000+10:00

Why life is good - VIII

2010-07-04T16:14:00.000+10:00

Haloumi as a mid-afternoon snack. Crunchy, melty deliciousness.

The country

2010-07-04T08:15:00.000+10:00

We went on an excursion to the country.

There was vanilla slice and galahs. It's not enough to lure me from the city. Not even if it meant I could keep chooks.