Ends and Joins

Ends and Joins
Originally uploaded by Hells Bells.

I was going fine knitting away on each of the separate parts. But I got into a bit of a tangle when it came to joining up the shoulders and doing the neckband. I had to pick up stitches from the fronts and back as well as add a few in between. So far so good, but when I got round to the back I had my end from the front and then the one from the back (at the end of a row of stitches I was picking up) and I had no idea which to use. I continued on the one from the front but then had no idea what to do with this one hanging around at the back...its from a stitch and I don't know how to secure it off. Maybe I should have knitted a few stiches with both threads? NOTHING in my finishing techniques book about this tricky situation!! And Debbie (Bliss...the pattern I'm using) was no help either. Anyone know what I should do/ should have done? ie if you can make any sense of what I'm going on about at all....

knitting

I have been doing some....slowly but surely. I'm sure my secret pal is wondering by now why on earth I signed up for a knitting swap - but I will be putting the book of knitting techniques to good use tonight as I think I may be up to the finishing stage! I should have a completed baby cardy soon if all goes well.

The thing is, while I have no shortage of babies and potential babies to make things for (i think at last count it was 5 friends expecting 7 babies!) - most of them are in Brisbane. And there is not a huge demand for knitted woolly items in the tropics unfortunately. I would have to try and estimate how big they would be for that one month of the year when they wouldn't expire with heatstroke wearing it. My one friend over here expecting at the moment may have to be the lucky recipient of any creations.

a little bit Blah

Its blah weather and I'm in a blah mood on this blah Monday.

Am feeling restless and something is missing...i want something but can't quite put my finger on what. Chocolate? (always a good first option) A good book? New clothes? Exercise? (almost definitely) New job? (nope - too much effort) A new project? (already have too many) A new vice? (potentially too expensive)

Hmmm - nope doesn't seem to be be any of those. The mystery remains. Hopefully will find it/ shake it off soon. I'm also getting worried that summer is over and I haven't spent enough time outside enjoying it. Tell me there'll be a few more good weekends.

Tonight I'm going to make a little something for my neglected secret pal to send off a package before the final August deadline.

But the most exciting thing I heard today...
Congratulations to Libby and Pete - not one but TWO little girls. Welcome to the world Francesca and Amelia.

TGIF

Yep its been a pretty long week. Most of which has been spent conducting training sessions and workshops for a "major government department" - very interesting, also quite tiring. It was really hot here and as I have discovered old buildings here never have air-con. A room full of computers and people = a very sweaty workshop.

Am about to head out to Heathrow and Frankfurt for the weekend.. to watch rugby and go to a hawiian party. Must remember to take tea bag supplies for Smithy.

summer in the city

I haven't been posting so much lately...the craft side of things has been alot quieter, although I've been pottering away on a few projects, while the work side has been much busier. And we're finally having some nice sunny weather here which is very conducive to relaxing and watching the cricket as much as possible and not much else.

In a desperate effort to get off the couch I've signed up for this Nike 10km run round Hyde Park.

So now I'm off to the gym..and then home for Lost...just starting here.

frustrated swapper

Jees take your eye off the ball for two minutes and you're toast in the cut-throat world of craft swaps!!

I wandered over to the back-tack site this morning to see if the new one had been anounced yet. Not only had it been anounced but fully subsribed and closed....and thats all before the original sign up date!! bugger! Not only that but i've also missed the deadline for signing up to get on the list for advance warning to sign up for back-tack 3...and THATs not until next year!!

And I'm not sure whats happened to Month of Softies...no August theme?

Maybe I'll just have to start my own swap so I have a chance of getting in on the act.

Woohoo!

I didn't mean to leave you in suspense over the mystery of the flowers for so long (just in case you were on tenterhooks!).

I've been trying to think of an eloquent/romantic story or a funny/touching one (a la Shauny). I'd even be satisfied with mildly amusing ...but in typical style I'll just blurt it out ...

Steve and I got engaged!!

I've been waiting until I've been able to contact friends but weekends away, time zone issues and pesky work have made it a bit difficult..but I'm getting there. And I've been totally overwhelmed with all the nice things people have said. There's been laughter, tears, offers of endless supplies of bridal magazines from the girls at work and offers of help to find the best music for the evening (much appreciated).

Slovakia

the Manor House
Originally uploaded by Hells Bells.

We just had a very rock and roll weekend going to a wedding in Slovakia. Steve and I met up in Vienna with some other friends and had a 45 minute trip to Bratislava to rendez-vous with the rest of the gang. We only had time for a very short sightseeing walk around the city – but the little we saw was lovely. The buildings were similar to Prague with their grand facades and details.

On Saturday afternoon we hopped on a coach to head to the manor house for the wedding in a little town called Beladice. The ceremony was a civil ceremony with the town Mayor presiding and translated into English for the visitors. There were some funny lost in translation moments and a lot of formal sounding sections about contracts, health checks and legal requirements being met. Not to mention the part about Narayan choosing Henrieta from thousands of women.

Some of the local traditions were sweeping up a broken plate for luck, shots of some very interesting (strong) liqueur before dinner and all the Slovakian guests brought bunches of flowers.

We all had a great time and there was some very interesting dance moves later in the evening.

flowers

flowers
Originally uploaded by Hells Bells.

I'm a lucky girl - Steve sent me these flowers yesterday.

Guess why???