Finished Custom Made Piece

I love the opportunity of working with a client to produce a beautiful and meaningful piece of jewellery. The collaboration of ideas is always interesting and surprising. I recently completed a a piece which is both a pendant and a brooch, using the client's unusual South Sea Pearl - with an interesting family history all of it's own. 

The scope of the design was quite broad. Something more than a simple bail, that works with the organic shape of the pearl, and includes saw piercing. Inspired by the providence of the Thursday Island pearl, I researched the pearling industry in the area and the history of the island, as I sketched design possibilities. I came across a flower native to the region and incorporated it in to a couple of the design. Below is the sketch of the piece the client chose. She requested the textured finish too, which I think really completes the piece so beautifully and helped create the gentle dome that hugs and protects the pearl.

I'm so pleased with how this piece came together, and how striking it is when worn. It's wonderful to be able to bring such a unique pearl out of storage and into the world as a small wearable artwork.

If you are interested in discussing a custom made piece, or in finding out about a quote, please feel free to email me, christina-lowry@hotmail.com

Yarn Along

 

Ta-dah! My biggest knitting project to date, the Camilla Blanket, is finished. And I'm so pleased with how it looks and feels. It still needs blocking, but today is the first sunny day we've had in quite awhile and I couldn't wait to share it with you. So please feel free to use your imagination.

 

I love it. I still love that deep purple wool from Bendigo Woolen Mills. I still love those fan patterns. Despite looking at them for the past five months. I hope that Emerson will love it too. Her Mama made blanket. Her first birthday present. (Only four months late.)

 

There were quite a few times when I considered casting off sooner that I had intended, because I was keen to start a new project, or just because I felt I was never going to get to the end of this blanket. I'm glad I persevered. It's a great size - bigger than a cot blanket and big enough for the toddler bed Cohen is growing out of and Emerson is growing in to. It should also be big enough to use on a single bed one day too. Fifteen repeats in total. Cohen has already requested exactly the same blanket in exactly the same colour. Hmmm, how about a vest or a hat instead.

 

It's been a light week of reading. My nephew has been staying with us and I'm yet to get this months book club book. Instead I've been dipping in to the new Country Style magazine and day dreaming about a lounge room make over. Nothing major, just a new lounge, new coffee table and new buffet for beneath the tv...

 

What are you knitting and reading?

 

Joining in with Ginny.

Raverly notes here.



Grateful for

- positive news at my check up at the eye clinic 

- a small area of focus in my vision

- friends and family who have taken over the reins of cooking, cleaning and child wrangling while I recover from surgery

- happy yellow flowers on my table from a friend

- towels straight off the line, still warm, and so fresh smelling

- how a shower can make you feel better

- babies laughter - arguably the best sound in the world

- audio books of 'Cloud Atlas', 'The Great Gatsby', 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy' and 'The Happiness Project'

- the entertainment afforded by a four year old's imagination

- garter stitch - as soon as I had approval from the specialist I cast on my next project, with 7mm needles and 10 ply wool, which I can work on for short periods of time before my eye tires

- so, so very grateful that my friends and family are safe after the floods that Queensland experienced again recently

Hoping you are all safe and well, dear readers, with much to be grateful for too.
I'd love for you to share something you are grateful for in the comments.

The Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief

It's a quiet, rainy day here today. Right now there's a late loaf of bread in the oven. There's a sky full of grey clouds and a coffee table covered in lego. (And an untimely clothesline full of dripping wet clothes.) There's paper pots waiting on the table, with soil and seeds at the ready. There's three giveaways in the works for next month. There's two napping children. And there is also one finished project, cast off last night. 

My first knitted kerchief, 'The Age of Brass and Steam.' It is a fairly simple and quick pattern, as long as you follow the photo tutorial for the garter tab beginning - a technique that was new to me. It has been completed in moments grabbed here and there the past five days. The Madelinetosh yarn has been especially lovely to work with and is soft and warm against the skin. I am a convert for sure.

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Raverly.

Emerson's blanket

Emerson came down with something on Friday and she has been miserable ever since. Seven week old babies with stuffy, runny noses, chesty coughs and watery eyes are heart breaking for their Mama's to behold. Neither she nor I have had much sleep the last few nights. We are awaiting the results of some tests. The Doctor thinks it is likely a virus, which means there isn't much we can do except keep up the feeds and cuddles.

So while Dada had cuddles with his baby girl Sunday night, I finished off her blanket for some extra Mama-made comfort.

PS. The Doctor called. The three results, one of which was for whooping cough, came back negative. Such a relief. So we are to stick to cuddle therapy unless she gets worse.

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Ravelry.

My Creative Space

This sweet interview with Alicia Paulson lead me to an old CraftSanity podcast. I spent a relaxing hour listening, knitting and drinking tea while both children slept. It was such a lovely and inspiring way to spend my Mama time for the day that I repeated it yesterday with Amanda Blake Soule's interview. 

In this way I finished the 'Autumn Leaves' top for Emerson. My first ever girls knit. I really enjoyed working on this piece. It wasn't too difficult, though it challenged me a couple of times, since I am still learning. I'm glad to have picked up some new techniques and I'm really pleased with how it has turned out.

Do you listen to podcasts? Do you have any that you would recommend, crafty or otherwise?

Pattern: 'Autumn Leaves' by Nikki Van Der Car

Yarn: Bendigo Woolen Mills Luxury 8 ply in 'Purple Storm'

Buttons: Vintage from the stash

Ravelry.

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More Creative Spaces here.

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You'd be forgiven for thinking it was Winter in these parts, rather than mid Summer, given all the knitting of late. I can't seem to see my way to any other craft. I do believe a part of me is trying to fit in as many stitches as I can before the baby comes.

These wrist warmers made it off the needles yesterday. My first every double pointed needle project and a great way to learn. Definitely one I would encourage others with a fear of dpns to try. They were much simpler than anticipated, quick and satisfying. My next step is more practice, in order to alleviate the 'ladders' formed where the needles meet, which are visible when worn. This article also seems like a great place to start.

The little man has been wearing these around the house and waving his arms around like some sort of woolly action hero, exclaiming 'mine, mine!' Which may explain why he kept asking 'knit for me?' while I was working on them. He seems to have ignored all my "no, they're for Mama" answers.

Free Pattern: Toast

Yarn: Harmony 10 ply, 100% Pure NZ Merino Wool

Ravelry.

My Creative Space

It's been almost a year since I knitted my first ever garment, a vest for Cohen, and posted it in 'My Creative Space.' Hooray for recording such moments through blogging. The differences between these two vests amaze me. From miscounting my stitches on that first vest, and making the vest too large, to learning how to calculate a smaller chest size than the pattern offered, so that the cabled vest fits Cohen now. Or crocheting around the neck for fear of picking up stitches, to picking up many stitches around the neck and arm holes to make the ribbing. Needless to say, I'm quite pleased with how this little vest turned out and how much my knitting has improved. I also think a three year old in a vest is a pretty cute thing, though I may be biased.

I'm feeling inspired for the next knitting challenge...

Pattern: 'In the family', Vintage Knitting Book

Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills Rustic Wool 8ply, Green Tweeed

Ravelry.

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More Creative Spaces here.

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When faced with difficult decisions, knitting surely is a wonderful aid to processing your thoughts. Though I'm yet to come to a final conclusion, I feel more calm about the question at hand. And in the meantime, I have completed my first ever raglan cardigan for Cohen. 

I couldn't be more pleased with it. Modesty aside, I do believe it is the very best thing I have yet knitted. Never did I think myself able to complete something like this. I am truly amazed at how much I have learnt and how my knitting has improved these past twelve months. One step at a time.

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Pattern: 'George' from Jaeger Handknits JB29 by Martin Storey

Yarn: Moda Vera Pure Wool 8 ply in Mustard

Buttons: Thifted, woven leather, metal shanked buttons

(I stitched the spare button to the inside seam of the cardigan, just in case Cohen looses one.)

Ravelry.