Thanks to someone the other day who said my blog was “naff”. You spurred me into action.
Call it “twitter-distraction” – when you’re micro-blogging on and off, you might think you’ve filled out your requisite airtime. Not so! I, for one, have never been accused of not having enough to say!
Life has been busy, yes. There was Raven leaving home – needless to say that was emotional. I was very strong at the airport as she departed. I think I bit through my own lip.
I then wept without restraint all the way home. The upside is, with three other little darlings to distract me, I recovered quickly and tend to only feel the sharpest pangs when Raven herself is struggling without us. Which is rarely. Her biggest problem is missing Luke – who is three years worth of cute and has a free-to-all policy when it comes to cuddles. He is also her LOTR-watching buddy and library companion. They share a special relationship and both are hanging out for some more Gandalf on Raven’s return for a holiday later this month.
She is getting hella fit walking up all those Wellington hills.
I know about the hills only because a few weeks ago I flew up to Wellington and met many wonderful knitters and others at Craft2.0 in the New Dowse Art Gallery.

Craft2.0 Wellington action - notice me in the background nattering while Kellie and Raven sell, sell, sell! Can I delegate or what?!
(with thanks to Marjorie Dawson for the use of her photograph.. because I didn’t even have room for my camera)
Never has anyone traveled such a short distance with such a heavy case. Stuffed, it was, with yarn. Around 180 skeins all up. I stayed with Raven in her house on the hill. And what a damn hill. I swear you can see all the way to Australia from up there. Which is great, although popping out for a loaf of bread takes on a whole new challenge category.
So far she’s had a letter published in the DomPost (look out Wellington, she’s just getting started) and has been star spotting (she saw Bret from Flight of the Conchords walk past her house and was struck dumb. Being somewhat like her mother and never short for a word, this was surprising).
Anyway, enough showing off about my gorgeous child. Craft2.0 was a fantastic day, and my friend Kellie flew up to assist – (big thanks to you, chickie – you are curing me of my affliction
. We had a blast and then flew home to recover.
There have been the sock club shipments – which I love – really! The plan is to hold another club before the end of the year – signups will be in September with shipments in October, November and December, just in time for Christmas!
I’ll keep you updated on progress with that one. There will be more spaces available this time, too.
Also, you may have seen that we are now stocking worsted weight yarn! What a joy to knit something so speedy! We are also devising some kits with the worsted weight and have been working with designers on some patterns. Not least of whom is Kate, a very clever knitterly friend who has devised some gorgeous things for us to create. I truly admire her ability – I am definitely in the ‘give-me-a-pattern-and-I-can-probably-make-it’ group; well short of the skill and courage demonstrated by the designer league.
Those coming soon!
In the meantime, I’ve just loaded some more Odd Balls on the site!

Plummy worsted weight

Cranberry worsted weight