My creative space - Milo Vest

 

Well here we are, the last day on May and I am still working on my Milo vest ...because you do know it's Milo May right?

Surely the whole point is that I'm working on this project and not to have it totally finished in May?  Yes, I knew you would agree!

So that's my creative space today, check out what others are doing over here .

suzy xoxo

 

Comfort food

What a week it has been?  Busy, crazy, still buzzing from last Sunday's markets and cold, cold, oh so cold!  This morning I felt like a bit of comfort food for my brekky.  This is comfort food to me because it was how my mum made me scrambled eggs at home - eggs (of course!), chopped tomato and chopped raw onion. YUM!  Not so comforting to Mr Hausfrau who thinks that the raw onion is kinda strange.  I think sometimes you need to grow up with something to appreciate it...and not see its strangeness!  

Have a great weekend,

suzy xoxo

OBDM it's a wrap!

Well it's taken me more than a day to regroup and absorb the absolutely awesome Sunday I had at the OBDM.  Wow!

How do I put into words the amazing response that I had to my little store?  And the sensational people that I met over the day. Faces to names, faces to twitter handle, faces to Ravatars...and just faces to really, really great people.  I met people from here in Canberra and customers that I have sent yarn to in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and down on the South Coast of NSW.

There are very few shots of the day that I took...this one here was taken close to 4pm and it was the first chance I got to take a shot of the setup.  I planned to do this at 9.30...but by then it was already under way.  Don't you just love my monster-sign?

 

After nearly an hour I thought that I would dash quickly up to grab a bag from my good friend at Buttontree Lane , but as she herself described it...the yarn-starved hordes held me back in my stall and by the time I could go the bags were all sold out. Insert massive sad face.

One of my gorgeous customers did manage to take some shots, and send me the link to her blogpost - you can read about it here.  

The BIGGEST and most MASSIVE thank you goes to my great friend Kuka , who was my...ahem...stall helper for the day (we have a more interesting description of this role usually).  I could not have done it without her.  Never, naha, not in anyway.  If I could get the blogosphere into a big round of applause right now I would. 

So that was it the OBDM - done, dusted, wrapped up - mighty succesful and spurring me on.

suzy xoxo

A cold change

 

The last few mornings have had a rather brisk start, with frost and temperatures plummeting below zero. I'm normally such a winter person, but must admit this year I am bemoaning the lost summer that never was.  Autumn was as always glorious, Canberra really knows how to put on a spectacle...but summer - a total fizzer!

Playing around on iphoto I found these shots taken as our fizzer of a summer, turned into autumn.  So excuse first of all the indulgence of posting old photos, and secondly allowing me to yearn wistfully for the summer that never was.

Have a great weekend,

suzy xoxo

PS: Don't forget that I'm at the OBDM tomorrow...hope to see you there.

Sew it (& crochet) together

 

There certainly is a lot happening at hausfrau headquarters, beginning with my stall at this weekend's Celebration of Wool markets in Canberra.  There is also something special that I have been conjuring up and hope to announce soon...and I am also attending the June long weekend gathering for this year's Sew it Together (SIT).

Haven't heard of SIT?  Well in a nut-shell it is just a big love-in for us crafty bloggers to sit down and sew together!  I'm really excited about spending the day with like-minded souls and sewing without any distractions...plus the very lovely Sheridan is even is letting me have a pop-up market stall with my yarn and teach two crochet classes! *insert girly claps*

I have put together some beginner crochet packs for those that want to join in the fun, with these gorgeous Brittany crochet hooks and the sublime BC Garn organic wool, semilla.  If you are going to SIT I think today is the day you can register for these mini-classes, maximum of 8 students in each.  

PLUS I've posted off some special treats for the participants goody bags, and even scored some special giveaways from one of my favourite suppliers, MillaMia. Phew...all I have to do now is wait, and surely that is the hardest bit!

suzy xoxo

Persimmon dreaming

I'm up to my armpits in persimmons. Our little tree has gone from a measly two persimmons in 2011 to gluttenous bounty this year.  We have over 100 persimmons to bake, preserve, eat, share and enjoy.  It's a race against the birds though so I can't leave any on the tree for much longer.

Aren't they just gorgeous?  Look at them here styled up on the crusty old hessian bag on top of our worm farm...we're classy photographers around here. ;)

There are so many persimmons that I've been dreaming about them...seriously!  A few of my most-favourite food bloggers know just how to inspire me, so I'm off to the kitchen to do:

• Poached Persimmon, Mascarpone and Marsala Sabayon and Pistachio Crumble Verrines by Canelle et Vanille
• Crepes with honey lavender roasted persimmons by Tartlette
• Persimmon & Pear Chutney by Food in Jars

Have you got any persimmon favourites to share? Remember that I've got 100 persimmons so I'd love to hear about them...suzy xoxo

Old Bus Depot Markets THIS Sunday

 

BC Garn Baby Alpaca

If you follow me on twitter or facebook you will know that I got a little bit excited last week when I heard that I have been given a spot for this Sunday's Old Bus Depot Market, Celebration of Wool event. Little old me, out in public, showing off my yarn...for a special yarn and fibre market, seriously can it get any better?

Some of what I'll be bringing along is the gorgeous BC Garn - the organic wool , wool/silk combo and my absolute favourite the baby alpaca. It wouldn't be suzy hausfrau if I didn't have loads of Holst Garn to show off including supersoft wool , wool/silk and wool/cotton ...and even though it's a Celebration of Wool I'm going to bring along the NEW Kalinka linen yarn, because you just have to see it to believe it.  The yarn fumes will be overwhelming!

Plus if I can pull a rabbit out my hat, new stock and a special announcement!

Phew! There's a lot for me to do in the next few days so things might be a bit quiet in the twittersphere for me.  But if you are in or around Canberra, please come on down and say hi.  I just love it when I meet my online friends and customers in real life.

Have a stupendous day,
suzy xoxo

Kalinka lingarn

Holst Garn

Giveaway $100 suzy hausfrau gift voucher

Pattern: Gabrielle jumper from MillaMia's Close Knit Gang

Get excited peeps!  The lovely Toni from Make it Perfect is hosting a giveaway of a $100 suzy hausfrau gift voucher...head on over here to join in the fun. Entries close Wednesday May 16th.


Good luck!
suzy xoxo

Mother's day special

 

Just because it's Mother's day this weekend, and just because I want to...I've taken $10 off all purchases $50 or more until midnight Sunday night.

You also get FREE shipping in Australia as always.

Use the code SUZYSMAMA10 on checkout to get your 10 bucks off...and if you work it and spend $60 or more you will get the usual 10% AND $10 discount. Again, just because I want to.

Click HERE to go to the store.

Anyhoo, Happy Mother's Day to all of you (and your mums)
suzy xoxo

Like Sleeves by Harumidori Designs

• Pattern: Like Sleeves
• Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran #44
• Needles: Lantern Moon 5.00mm

More details over here on Ravelry .

...and more creative spaces in a NEW location over on Village Voices.

 

suzy hausfrau groupies

Are you a suzy hausfrau groupie over on Ravelry?  I pledged on twitter last week if I get to 100 groupies by the end of May there would be prizes for everyone...all my groupies.  So get to it!  Head on over here to join.

Haven't heard of Ravelry?  Seriously?  Well, it's a collective website that's free to join and is the most comprehensive database of yarns, patterns and knitter/crochet folk from around the globe.  So get on it!

suzy xoxo

Just helping out...destash

 

A customer of mine recently contacted me about a stash of Holst Garn that she will be unable to use.   I have offered to help her out, by posting about it here on the blog.
UPDATE - a new happy home is found for the Holst!
She is happy to sell them out at $7.50 each as a single buy to one person. First in, best dressed I think in this scenario. Please email me on admin@suzyhausfrau.com.au and I will pass on your details.

Her stash includes 20 balls made up of:

• 2 x Supersoft Robins Egg lot 41584
• 2 x Supersoft Aquamarine lot 31478
• 2 x Supersoft Cloudberry lot 41666
• 2 x Supersoft Flannel Grey lot 31759
• 2 x Supersoft Silver Grey lot 41658
• 2 x Supersoft Willow 20672
• 2 x Supersoft Black lot 31762
• 2 x Supersoft Saffron lot 41426
• 2 x Samarkand Antimony lot 7773
• 2 x Supersoft Litchen lot 7785

You should be able to see all of the colours over in the store.
suzy xoxo

Some lace knitting and a spot of lunch

suzy hausfrau's first workshop...done, dusted and even if I say so myself a resounding success!  Thanks in no small part to the gorgeous Fiona who trekked down from Sydney especially to teach it. It is so great when you meet cyber-mates IRL, there should be more of it I say.

...and then to the participants a mix of friends and now new-to-me friends who chatted, laughed, shared and then every so often would go oh so quiet when they were counting, and re-counting  and concentrating on the stitches of their precious creations.

What did I do you say?  I had a thoroughly enjoyable time in the kitchen whipping up some lunch (full of non-kid friendly flavours and without any small squidget helpers), listening and learning and then sitting down every now and then to knit a few rows.

So to the details, firstly of the knitting.  Fiona took the group through circular cast-ons, how to read charts (the hardest first!), knitting triangular lace from the top down, provisional cast ons, loose and stretchy cast-offs...and even a lesson on how to block with welding wires - who knew?  I think everyone left the day full of inspiration and new found confidence.

And if you're interested in the food, here is what we ate:

• my never-fail-me cheat lemonade scones with homemade Blackberry Jam and Cream
• Pumpkin, goat's curd and thyme tart (Gourmet Traveller May 2012)
• Chicken salad with black grapes, walnut and celery (Gourmet Traveller May 2012)
• White bean salad (Gourmet Traveller May 2012)

...and a small ode to my mama, who inspired me to get back on this crafty wagon, was on the table - a mama-made crochet jug cover.  I know that yesterday she would have been really proud of me. xoxo

Save the date...Sat 16th June WWKIP

I am thrilled to be hosting, for the second year running, the Canberra event for 

World Wide Knit in Public Day (WWKIP). 

Saturday 16th June 2PM

A Bite to Eat 

at the 

Chifley Shops. 

Please RSVP over here.
After more information on WWKIP? Find it here.

Our event is loaded up to the official site and just because we're like that in Canberra...this is not exclusive to knitters - crochet folk are most welcome. 

Hope to see you there,
suzy xoxo

A rainbow of DB Cashmerino

I'm proud of all of the colours of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino we stock at suzy hausfrau, 24 at last count! So proud, that yesterday I decided to make a little colour wheel using just some of the colours,  in the late afternoon autumn light -  just look at them. Perfect squishy balls of yummy yummy yarn!

I'm also proud that as a small yarn store we can sell them at $9.95 (RRP $11.50) to you everyday, with FREE shipping in Australia and an extra 10% off that price if you spend $60 or more.  

To highlight just a few, here are the pinks...

the greens,

and my favourite, the blues.

My creative space

I was desperate to show off a finished project today, and I'm oh so close.  Ends to weave in and a neckband to redo and then we're on!

It is of course the gorgeous Like Sleeves by Harumidori Designs.  If you want to see more creative spaces and people with finished projects sharing their wares, head on over here.

 

Dye lots

 

When I'm packing orders at suzy hausfrau I am absolutely obsessive about getting the yarn to you in the best possible condition and when the order includes multiple balls/skeins, in the SAME dye lot.  This seems like such a natural thing to do, and a very important one...and as one customer has pointed out to me, not always being done by some stores.

That is why when I put 'end of dyelot' sales on, I will name the ball or skein by the dye lot number. As well as being sold out at great prices, these sales help me keep multiple dye lots in my best selling lines to a minimum.  They are REALLY popular and usually sell out in less than an hour!  I normally will put these up on Ravelry , Facebook and Twitter .

So, this is something you expect right?  It's what you would do yourself if you were picking yarn up off a shelf in a store?

I'd love to hear your thoughts,
suzy xoxo

Hemming jeans

Continuing on from yesterday's bloghonesty, I'm going to open myself up for more ridicule and admit that until recently I found the idea of hemming jeans terrifying.  Just a wee-bit ridiculous in my book for someone who can sew clothes, curtains and gifts for all and sundry.  Now even more ridiculous after rising to the challenge and finding out how easy it is...but perhaps not as ridiculous as trying to take a photo of the hem of your jeans, whilst wearing them!

I did do a bit of reading and researching, and here is my list of tips if you want to do this yourself:

• Make sure that you use an appropriate topstitch thread.  I used the Guterman thread above.  This comes in a great range of colours so that you can match the thread easily.  By this I mean to the manufacturer's thread usually visible on the side flat-fell seams.
• I always pin pants on both sides and check in the mirror.  I did the same for my jeans.  This is just a personal preference, but I have not had much luck with pinning on one side and measuring from it to do the other.
• Roll your hem under once, iron and then hammer it flat...yes you read that right, use a hammer to flatten the fabric, especially where the hem will be bulky at the the inner and outer leg seam.
• Roll your hem over again, and repeat the ironing and hammerin'
• Stitch from the right side of the garment
• Lengthen your stitch seam to 3.0mm
• Use an appropriate denim/canvas needle
• Begin each round of stitching just behind the inner seam
• When you get to the bulky inner and outer leg seams, stop sewing and turn your needle manually.

Happy sewing,

suzy xoxo