May 2012: 

Having taken it easy for while this year so far - after my open heart surgery in January - I am now getting right back into the swing of things. As usual I have given away a number of things I made before I remembered to photograph them. But I have a few pics... 

I dyed some silk, handspun it, and then crocheted it into this shawl. I am rather pleased with it.
It went to Sue for her birthday.

I saw some interesting funky footwarmers someone had made,so I had to have a go at doing some myself.
These ones turned out a bit big, so I made another pair - below. It only takes one evening to make a pair!
Very comfortable to wear around the house and keep my feet snug and warm.
I made the soles easily detachable, so if they wear out, I can just crochet another sole and pop it on.

And when my granddaughter saw these she wanted a pair of her own....

I handwove this "shrug" with bits and pieces I had been given.
The photo does not do it justice

We went for a holiday up to Yamba, where there were lots of pandanus trees growing.
I picked some leaves and brought them back to play with. This is one of the two table runners I wove on my loom with them. The darker stripes are Gymea Lily leaves. I mean anyone can make baskets with pandanus, but I had to experiment with some different techniques...

I actually knitted myself a pair of socks. Got very bored working with fine needles and wool.
The trouble with knitting socks is that when you have finally finished one, you have to sit and do another exactly the same!  I prefer variety in my craft work.

I was given an alpaca fleece - some was really good, but other parts were a bit scrappy. Rather than throw the scrappy bits away, I spun them and then made a stick-woven floor rug. Some of the panels are wool, and the rest alpaca.
The rug measures about 120 cm X 65.

Mike wanted a beanie to wear under his bike helmet when he goes riding in the Canberra winters.
I made it reversible as well.

A cardigan and beanie I knitted for one of the grandsons

Thomas liked my grey footwarmers I was wearing when he was visiting one time, and asked for a  pair of his own. You never know what appeals to an 18 year old!


I haven't given up basket weaving either. I made a couple of baskets recently, but typically forgot to photograph them before they went to their new home. I did photograph this one though.