Saturday, March 30, 2013

in your autumn sweater




I collected these things on a walk around my neighbourhood yesterday. They are signs that our wonderful, long summer is coming to an end.

Reading An extraordinary theory of objects: a memoir of an outsider in Paris by Stephanie Lacava and extra curricular #11 + Listening  Jolene by Jack White + Eating feijoas from the garden

Monday, March 25, 2013

seed raising





After my seed gathering adventures I decided to make my own biodegradable pots from newspaper to germinate my seeds and grow the seedlings. There are many tutorials showing you how to do this. I used this one where you simply roll newspaper around a jar or bottle. At first the pots seem as if they'll unfold themselves but once you fill them with soil, they are fairly robust. Alternatively, you can make origami pots. I've planted some of the Aristea seeds and also gathered a few seeds from some pansies growing in my garden to plant up later.

My panda plant cuttings are still green - and not grey as they should be - but they are now big enough to re-pot so I put them into old jam jars turning them into (sort of) mini terrariums. And I re-potted a sad little cactus into a badly crazed but favourite Crown Lynn cup.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

softest grey




I'm knitting a baby cardigan in seed stitch in the palest of greys using a lovely soft cashmere/merino/silk yarn. I'm working hard to get it finished but, really, I wouldn't mind if it went on forever.

Reading The lighthouse by Alison Moore

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

band of monkeys



Five more monkeys for the Great Sock Monkey Challenge. These are made using mainly donated socks with a few left over bits and pieces I had from previous monkeys. I'm ashamed to say I received the donated socks back in October and it's taken me this long to make the monkeys. I don't know about you, but sometimes it takes me a long time to get started. The socks sat around for about four months until I got myself motivated. I could blame the glorious summer weather for my procrastination. But, actually, it's just me. 

Watching classic movies at Auckland Film Society

Monday, March 4, 2013

things from Coromandel




On our Coromandel camping holiday we passed through Thames - a good place to stop for something to eat and to visit the charity shops.

Here's what I bought there:
  • a yellow and dark brown plastic basket. This is my favourite Coromandel thing.
  • a Crown Lynn plate in a brown grid pattern called 'tres bon'
  • a 1972 calendar tea towel with yachts (a gift for a friend) 
  • some shot glasses that I've re-purposed into tea light holders and
  • two books - The splendid soft toy book (useful) and The Welsh corgi (not so useful but corgis are cute and I might use the pictures to make cards). On the cover of The Welsh corgi someone has crossed out the word 'corgi' and written 'rarebit' underneath. That's pretty corny but I think it's funny.
I also bought some homemade plum jam from the Saturday street market in Coromandel Town. It's so delicious it's nearly all gone.

Reading Doppler by Erlend Loe + Harvesting passionfruit from the garden + Watching The life of Pi + Making ice cream in my new ice cream maker