My creative space and a GIVEAWAY!

Sometimes I think I can make some fairly rash decisions when it comes to what I can manage in my creative space/time. I decided to make another Alpine Frost Scarf as a surprise gift to a friend when there was 6 weeks or so to go before said gifting date. This is somewhat unusual for me as I'm often sewing/knitting/crafting right up until the deadline...plenty of time, mate, plenty of time!

So what I have I worked on for the first two weeks - hmmm this new cardigan! Then yesterday "said gifting date" shifted like two weeks forward and I'm back on familiar territory...panic and looming deadlines. This my friends is my creative space today! More over here...

Oh...I nearly forgot. I'd love to giveaway one hank (100g/500m yardage) of the yarn that I'm working with. The glorious baby alpaca to a reader (chosen by random) who leaves a comment here before midnight next Wednesday 5th October (AEST). One hank is enough for a scarf or small shawl usually, and the winner can choose their own colour.

Three day strawberry jam!

Yesterday afternoon I finished my first batch of three day strawberry jam! Three days you say? Well, you macerate and cook the fruit up in sugar and lemon juice over a couple of days before making it up on day three.

I read on Martha's blog that this is her preferred way of making jam, which I figured was a a damn fine endorsement. The man of the house bought me the book for my birthday. It is by Christine Ferber, a jam maker and pastry chef who lives in Alsace, France - ahhhh! That is just me sighing...

So back to the jam. It it much more delicate in flavour, still sweet but not overly so. The fruit is translucent because it is separated out from the jam setting process. I was (as always) a little impatient in pouring it into the bottle which means the fruit has risen, but that is just pure aesthetics. For I can tell you that Sebastien (who was home from school for the day) and I shared a great slathering of it on a croissant for afternoon tea...and it was yummeeee!!!

New stock at suzy hausfrau

I've got to admit this yarn store thing can be a bit exciting at times! Take today for instance, after dropping the squidgets at school I ventured out to the Australian distributor of Brittany needles/crochet hooks. I was delighted last week to find them so close to me here in Canberra...not quite in Canberra but in a small village just on the outskirts. The ladies were so lovely and showed me around the warehouse which was packed with all sort of gorgeous crafty goodness. Then they gave me a trolley and let me go! I loaded up on some Brittany knitting needles and crochet hooks , plus a few new pattern books to add to the collection. There are some other sizes of Brittany still to come, and I will add more beautiful lines from them in the next few weeks.

Just take a peep at these needles and hooks, made from birch wood which originates from strictly regulated forests or small woodland owners in the US. This wood is turned by a family of craftsmen. Birch is used because it is strong, stable, resists warping and can be given a smooth finish.

I've transferred both projects that I have on the sticks and hooks tonight, and I'm smitten!

Petite Purls FREE magazine

Design by Cheezombie as featured in Petite Purls

Canberra's annual flower festival, Floriade kicked off this week so I'm absolutely delighted to have found these gorgeous tulips to make for the little ones. They come in the most delightful FREE online magazine . Hello did you hear me...FREE, FREE patterns...FREE!!!

Sometimes I think I can be a little slow on the uptake. I'm sure I must be the last person to have heard of Petite Purls. The latest issue is here and features an article on the top ten textile toy designers on the web, some great patterns for Waldorf dolls (even a swimsuit)and more FREE stuff than even I have hope of devouring!

There are also back issues for the last two years and some basic patterns for your squidgets.

I'm absolutely smitten!

Have a great day,

suzy xoxo

My creative space

Moss stitch, I just love it! It was the stitch that I most wanted to master when I first started knitting.

The baby jacket with the loveliest moss stitch border by Debbie Bliss is what I'm working on today. The other night I suddenly realised that the largest size in the pattern is 24-36 months in the book that I have and my lil' Sophie will be 3 in December! Yikes, no time for UFOs here.

More creative spaces over here.

Have a awesome day,

suzy xoxo

New stock at suzy hausfrau

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to be introducing Debbie Bliss yarn to my little store. Since opening back in June I've had so many people ask me if I'm going to stock Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. It is an obvious favourite with a lot of knitters/crochet folk out there. I have used this yarn a couple of times in the past, most notably for this cardigan for Sophie. It was a dream to work with, and this garment has kept on going through a couple of seasons and will easily make more...

I have started with the ten most popular colours, and will add to the range over the next few weeks.

I am also stocking Debbie Bliss Cotton DK for those customers who want to make up some lighter garments for spring/summer...and a couple of pattern books.

Please let me know if there are any colours or books that I don't have, I'm more than happy to do a special order.

Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino

$9.95 per ball (RRP $11.50)

Debbie Bliss Cotton DK Bliss Cotton DK

$7.95 per ball

Pattern Books , starting at $24.95

New blog crush

It's been a while since I've posted about any new blog crushes. I have lots of them, there are so many talented people out there I often feel quite inadequate. So, today I was working...ummm....away, ahem on Pinterest - seriously I was!

Anwyay, whilst I was merrily pinning away I came across this guy, followed the link back to this blog ...isn't it divine! I love the use of muted colours, this blog is so inspirational I knew that I had to share it! Share my new blog crush...

image from willewopsie

BC Garn Baby Alpaca *LOVE*!

From the moment that I touched the dear sweet baby alpaca fibre on the sample card I have been in love! When the hanks arrived in the most delicious and sweet colours, I was smitten...working with it whilst making my new scarf was just divine...and now I'm obsessed!

This yarn makes grown women go weak at the knees - I'm serious! I wore this scarf to my showcase a few weeks ago and it was easily the best seller on the day. I have all of the kinder mums at school in a frenzy, buying it up....and most of them can't even crochet! (I can feel a class or two coming on). Have I told you that I love it? I mean REALLY love it...can't you tell?

...and I love wearing my new scarf, firstly because I hardly ever make anything for me, but mainly because it is just GAWGEOUS! Crochet can sometimes create garments that are a bit rigid, but this has fluidity and grace...and dare I say it class!

Happy days,

suzy xoxo

My creative space

Today my creative space is focused my friends! I'm so close to finishing a summer dress/tunic for Sophie so I am going to push on, finish it and block it out tonight - which will mean a little photo shoot on the weekend and show and tell on Monday.

I got terribly excited this morning when I realised the end was near...so I decided to take 15% off all of my silk blends in the store until next Friday (prices as marked).

The pattern is Coco's Bobble Dress and I'm using BC Garn Silkbloom Fino ix20.