Winona forever?

So according to my co-workers I'm the "Office Winona". At first i thought they were trying to accuse me of being a drug-taking shoplifter, but apparently it's because I'm small, wear a lot of black and am a bit loopy.
Overall, i guess it's okay being compared to Winona, particularly Winona in her glory days a la Heathers and Beetlejuice.

Wintry

Haruha Scarf in progress
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

I've been thinking a lot lately about autumn/winter knits. Summer is pretty much over already, and the majority of this summer has been crazy rain and weird weather anyway. I actually much prefer winter anyway. Winter means soups and stews. Winter means hot chocolate. Winter means reading big Russian novels. Winter means boys in beanies and girls in stockings.
So I've been ogling various berets, scarves and mittens over on Ravelry and have cast on the Haruha scarf as my first official autumn/winter accessory. I have a gorgeous black Stella McCartney coat to keep me warm, so some hot knitted accessories will really jazz it up.

BATS!

BATS!
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

they're awesome. that is all.

horror crochet

I'm not normally a fan of fiddly littled crocheted/knitted items, eg sushi and cupcakes etc. they're incredibly cute, but I just don't normally have much time to spend making stuff that's not really very practical. HOWEVER, an exception shall be made for the items I just discovered in the new issue of the AntiCraft: a crocheted chainsaw and axe!!

I have some photos of the Opera in the Domain knitting extravaganza which I'll put up shortly, most probably after I've had an opportunity to listen to the latest Sticks and String podcast and freak out about how my voice really sounds. That's right folks, David interviewed me while we were swanning around waiting for the opera. No doubt I've managed to cackle insanely and/or scream excitedly at some point during the broadcast. tee hee.

The Road to Homebush...

Close up of centre knotwork panel
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

is littered with cable stitches......
This is the beginning of Kilronan (on Ravelry here), which is my entry in the Royal Easter Show Arts competition this year.
I was debating whether or not to knit this jumper for a while, considering
(a) I don't live in the wild heaths of the Aran Isles (yet...)
(b) I don't own a horse and fetching riding boots
But on the other hand, I think it will look nice in winter paired with some leggings and hot boots.
So in order to have this finished by the time it needs to be delivered to the Show people, which is around early March I think, I'll need to knit my little heart out. Can i do it??? Not to mention I have some top-secret gifts to knit for next month as well. Also not to mention my seemingly incurable obsession with starting new projects, particularly hot berets at the moment.
At least I haven't bought any yarn so far this year. Money in the bank kids!!!! (Well except for the $7 I spent at JB Hifi the other day buying a copy of Serial Mom, but i figure that's the best $7 I'll spend all year. That movie is HILARIOUS!)

day of mayhem

So many insane news stories today!!
1. The Polish man who went to a brothel only to discover his wife amongst the employees (link)
2. The American man who cut off his and microwaved it after reading passages from the Book of Relevations (link)
3. The Russian man who killed two of his friends with an axe after walking in on them in the process of dismembering his pet dog for meat (link)
4. The guys who wheeled their deceased friend around New York "Weekend at Bernie's" style to try and cash a cheque - my personal favourite (link)
These sure are strange days on Planet Earth.

festival fever

Went along to Sydney Festival First Night, a great way to kick off this year's festival.
Started out at Hyde Park, walked through snow/tickertape in Martin Place, Plump DJs, then on to the Domain for summer sounds with Brian Wilson, and back to Hyde Park for Pink Martini, fireworks and bats!! The only lowlights were the RIDICULOUS over-policing and stupid drink voucher system.
And tonight...Spank Rock at the Becks Festival Bar!!

resolutions

I love a good list, particularly one filled with unrealistic goals. So without further ado, here are my Resolutions for 2008:

• stick to budget. Aim to have $3K saved by the end of the year in the African Holiday Fund
• continue yoga at least once a week, but without turning into a "yoghurt fancier"
  
• get rid of some unwanted stuff on eBay or Freecycle it. It's all about minimalism folks!
• knit up all the yarn I have lying around before buying any more. See above re minimalism.
• get knitting articles/designs published. Work on knitting book.
  
• visit more lighthouses
• drink more cocktails and less beer
  
• procrastinate less (hahahahhahahhahahahhah)
  
• blog more than once a month
  
• continue being hot
• bring Vincent Price back from the dead
  

familiar

I've become quite enamoured of the program Who Do You Think You Are, where British TV personalities trace their family history. It makes me want to embark on a mission to trace my lineage and discover I'm descended from the French aristocracy.

grand prix

I'm planning my entry/ies for the Sydney Royal Easter Show which is coming up in March/April of next year. I've liked the Anne of Cleves design from Tudor Roses for a while now but have always been afraid to knit it because it's HUGE. But my devious plan involves some minor calculations to knit it with a fingering weight yarn and 3.25mm needles, thereby reducing the size considerably. I'm thinking of keeping the length though and wearing it as a sweater dress. I don't particularly care if i get a ribbon or not, it's just fun wandering around the exhibits and pointing out to random strangers things you've made. haha. Last time i had an embroidery piece on display and I literally loitered in the area (minus a raincoat) for about 3 hours waiting to hear if anyone was going to say anything negative about it, at which point i planned to spring out from the shadows and abuse them.

anyway i have yarn already, so will start plotting as soon as i've finished my tea cozy swap items and seamed together my minimalist cardigan.

Recipe for Disaster or Recipe for Success??

Ingredients:

28 episodes of Twin Peaks
Hedera sock pattern
1 hank of Socks that Rock Raven yarn
Imported British chocolates
Beer

Combine!
Only time will tell if this will result in a completed pair of socks for Southern Summer of Socks, or whether it will result in me roaming the streets talking backwards and carrying a log.

Playing Catch Up

Secret Pal Booty!
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

so some internet-related difficulties have prevented blog activity recently. but now i'm back online! First up, here is my final package from my lovely secret pal, who has now revealed herself to be Channon!
look at all the cool stuff i got: Vesper sock yarn (woo!), two skeins of beautiful Claudia's handpaints sportweight,, an awesome cake tape measure, halloween stitch markers, row counter, and a lighthouse!!!!
Thank you Channon for your beautiful gifts!

the screw is turning

it would appear i can't seem to get enough of these faux victorian knitwear designs. this is Darcy from the new Kim Hargreaves book, the Dark House Collection. it already has me conjuring up mad scenarios involving hauntings, laudanum, shadowy religious figures.....and several hanks of black cotton.

brahms and lizst

i'm cooped up inside the house for the next few days writing research papers.
lucky for me the ABC Classic FM Top 100 Concertos is being broadcast over the next five days! I'm barracking for Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto to take the top spot! GO SERGEI!!!
when the mad stress of the final few weeks of uni is behind me, there will be some hot updated knitting content and more crazy summer plans.

Merci Beaucoup Ami Secret!

Thanks secret pal!!
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

this BEAUTIFUL yarn arrived in the mail yesterday from my secret pal via the Loopy Ewe (also my favourite online yarn vendor!). It's J.Knits Lace-a-licious in Massachusetts colourway. The photo doesn't do the yarn justice, it's superfine alpaca and it's so incredibly soft and squishy.
i've decided to make the Lily of the Valley Shawl from Lace Style with it.
this is perfect summer knitting!
also in the package were the awesome Kitchener Stitch markers, which i've been wanting for ages!
hooray for my secret pal! you rock!!

hare-brained schemes episode 768..

Colour Inspirations for Bedspread
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

an addendum to the mad summer plans. another project i will be working on over the summer is a massive knitted bedspread. it's going to be based on Kaffe Fassett's Turkish Carnation motif (for that added touch of exotica).
and how HOT is the colour scheme? i'm totally loving it. the pictures in the background are little postcards from some films i love which inspired the colours for the blanket (from left to right: High Plains Drifter, The Devil is a Woman, Sunset Boulevard and The Cameraman)
The plan is to eventually have these framed and in the same room as the bedspread. this is of course when i purchase "hot lawyer dream house"...location as yet undetermined...

Booklust

Recently acquired books
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

per yesterday's grand summer plans post, here are some books i've acquired recently that i plan to read in the summer:
(from top)

• In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Kim Cooper: part of 33 1/3 series. this one is about Neutral Milk Hotel. no more needs to be said.
• The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service Vol 2 and 3: a really great manga about five students who assist the dead who can't move on.
• The Crimson Petal and the White, Michel Faber: some sort of mad Dickensian romp featuring brothels and perfume merchants.
  
• The Bloody Chamber, Angela Carter: dark retellings of some Grimm fairytales
• Tourism, Nirpal Singh Dhaliwal and Platform, Michel Houllebecq: I plan to read these two together and try to make some sort of mad comparisons and informed statements about French and British nihilism.
• Fun in a Chinese Laundry, Josef von Sternberg: autobio of the man who made Marlene Dietrich a star.

HURRY UP SUMMER HOLIDAYS!!! i'm freaking out here!!!!

the livin' is easy

so it's that time of year again. the time when i start plotting madly about all the things i'm going to do and/or achieve in the summer. usually it's completely over the top and unrealistic, but i figure if i can do about 50% of the following it'll be a good summer:

• take classes in Arabic and/or French. I LOVE learning languages, and want to utilise both of these in future trip to Morocco.
  
• take a printmaking class. i have many grand schemes involving art deco woodblock and lino print action.
• read all the books i've been threatening to read all year but have been too heavy to lug around with law textbooks
  
• go somewhere hot and drink pina coladas (i'm thinking tahiti?)
  
• knit a truckload of socks. this endeavour will no doubt be assisted by my planned participation in Southern Summer of Socks
• learn to use my spinning wheel
• sew myself some dresses
  
• write my knitting book (subject top secret)
• play badminton
  
• master the art of falconry
  
• release a Christmas album

instant gratification

Biker vest - front
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

so a lot of people don't like twinkle. sure, the patterns are a tad wonkily written. sure, the sizing seems a bit bizarre (but it does work out!). but you can't deny the garments turn out pretty darn good.
anyway, next up - tangled yoke cardigan!

Retro Redux Shrug

Retro Redux 2
Originally uploaded by miss_reecie

aha! finally a hot piece of knitwear which I can wear this spring/summer. I chose the colour and the pattern specifically to go with this dress, which was gifted to me by Fashion Assassin for some work I did for them earlier this year. But it's such a lovely shrug I can see it being worn with a lot of things this coming spring.
Now all I need is :
(a) weather to clear up and start looking more like spring
(b) invitation to a garden party
(c) wealthy gadabout to invite me to a picnic in the botanic gardens.

more photos on flickr.