And another one on the way...

Am almost done with my newest design, a lush purple cardigan made with one of my favorite tweeds by Jo Sharp.

I couldn't resist the temptation to just dive into another one while still working on two others, but managed to finish this one first. When you become as addicted to knitting as I am, it really doesn't matter which one you finish first. I find that I'm most keen to keep the stash down to a reasonable level so that I can continue to buy more yarn, simple really. Any knitter would understand that logic.

And having several projects running at the same time--not to mention them running parallel to one's life, marriage, basic necessities of bathing, feeding, socializing, pet-loving, etc.--its 'all in a day's work.' And so very worth it.

I'm still having to put a zillion hours, and then some, into editing and updating my website. I've discovered that I need to fine tune the program I'm using as it's a new version that isn't completely compatible with some of the older versions of Windows. Oh well, its been like learning a new language for me so I just need to keep at it.

Am off now to tidy up, just a bit, before finding out how the presidential debate went down between Obama and McCain. I know who I'm for but as I live over here in the land of Oz, I found that the process for voting from here was going to be awkward, expensive and tedious. Just hope we are able to put a beating 'heart' back into the White House.

Website launch at the BrighsideKnitter.com

You can now visit my new website as it's ready for viewing. Just click on the heading here to take you directly to it.



Please visit anytime to see a showcase of my work and designs. I have knitting patterns for sale and free. I shall be adding to both these sections every fortnight so visit again and often to keep you inspired. Happy knitting! with kind regards, the BrightsideKnitter

www.brightsideknitter.com/

The Chocolate Shop

I've been tangled up in yarn so haven't been around to add to my blog. And in between my tangles, I've been enjoying some fine motobike rides with my husband through the gorgeous countryside here in the Illawarra. My favorite so far has been our rides to Berry to pick up sourdough bread and to check out the latest window display at the LYS called Sew n' Tell. Yesterday we rode over to the seaside to have lunch in Shellharbour Village and were so lucky to enjoy a really quiet Spring day. No rain, all sunshine for a change. The highlight for me was dessert at The Chocolate Shop.
Yes, if you ever make it to this place, you've got to have some chocolate at the chocolate shop. I've added a foto of what we shared: a rich hazelnut cake that was dripping with dark yummy stuff.
Very decadent and oh so good, mmmm.

I've managed to complete four more designs, knitted and all, in the past couple of months while tending to an allergic reaction that had me swell up...not really worth telling any more than that. It was painful.
Working a lot to get my website up and running. I've discovered that the most time consuming part if editing and formatting the images to get them just right. Gosh! how easy it is to take all that imaging for granted until you have to work on it yourself. I think I'll start to look into updating my digi-camera this next year as that may help me with what I'm trying to do.

If you've got any tips or suggestions to any good digital cameras out there, do let me know.

Well, hope you are also knitting up something wonderful to wear when not browsing the blogs here in cyberspace. I'm torn between trying to do too much but love knowing that I can cuddle up to my dogs and cats when knitting after a few hours spent roaming through and staying in touch with fellow craftsters. Craft on amigas/amigos.

Yours truly, the BrightsideKnitter

I'm also launching my website tomorrow, visit my work at: www.brightsideknitter.com/

Fotos

Fotos

Talk about learning curves being steep!
In the past two months I've learned how to set up and put together my website, with many, many thanks to a very patient and helpful website supporter by the name of Geoff from Etisymsolutions.com.au

And I learned how to blog. The funny thing is that once you start blogging, all that overwhelming sense of "oh my, what & how am I doing this and who will want to read the stuff in MY blog?!"
Well, am so glad to know there are fellow knitting and fiber enthusiasts out there to share blogs with. And I've also discovered that my blog is a great way to stay in touch with family on the other side of the globe.

But now that I'm ready to launch my website I've discovered that the endless hours of editing, pasting, waiting for the net to upload, download, transfer, etc. hasn't finished yet. I don't like the fotos I've taken of my designs so must now get back onto Picnic and edit them with better resolution and color. gosh! am getting pickier by the year but the truth be told that it's really quite a lot of fun.
So stay posted as my next blog will announce the launching of my website.

Good day to all.

Wooden Buttons

Buttons for my Durran Durra Cardigan
website: www.brightsideknitter.com/
Here’s a foto of my cardigan’s buttons finally sewn on. I made this one last year and have waited—and delayed—the button addition until now. You can get a freepattern of this cardigan from my website within my patterns section. I designed this cardi a few years ago and even made a sweater version for my husband in a flax tweed. But that one still has to be typed up (which takes time that I don’t have at the moment), but if you’d like to make something for that special fella, visit my website before Xmas and I’ll have that pattern up for free too.


This is the men's version I knit for David.

Pillion Daze

There's a time in a girl's life when push comes to shove and one doesn't always think it'll happen too close to home...but this naive old girl has just realized that it often happens mostly at home. And so I introduce you to our new family member: my husband's motorcycle.

There's no name to it and the least I will do for it all is have a customized set of license plates made for David to jazz it up. Not that it needs any. And the truth be it that after a few arguments before the conception of it all and during the planning and gestation of financing his pregnancy to purchase such a two-wheeler, I'm actually enjoying it as the official "pillion." Yes, I'm a pillion now, ayayay.

The plan is to make time for us together, riding along the gorgeous coastline of the Illawarra here in Oz on our motorbike--as the Aussie's call it--with my knitted-goods-in-progress safely tucked away in my backpack and a few bucks in the pocket with which to purchase some turkey-cranberry-with-avocado-on-sourdoughbread sandwiches on a sunny weekend day...and perhaps some yarn;)

That's romance David's way;)

For the Love of Bob

Ravelympics 2008

I have just checking in on my fellow For the Love of Bob team mates at Ravelry and oh my! What amazing energy and projects they came up with. They've carried the flag, the weight and the stamina of true Ravelympians. Go Team Bob knitters!

As for little 'ol me, well, must be fair and admit that I walked off the course. Yes, no injuries, no sore knuckles or overused tendons, just couldn't devote the three weeks to pure knitting. Am so sobbing about this as it would've been a true dream to ignore everything and everyone around me and just knit. I know you guys were able to not ignore and still include knitting into your daily routines which makes me wanna be you when I grow up.

But fortunately, am still married, my pets still love me and the antibiotics kicked in before this influenza type x managed to keep me from frogging.

And in the spirit of true yarning, I insist you visit the Ravelry pages to see what amazing things were knit in just three weeks!