Things I have learned in the last 48 hours ...

I love playing with dyes.  Watching a dye-bath go from a deep colour to almost clear as the yarn/fibre slurps it up is deeply satisfying, particularly when I'm playing with multiple colours & sprinkling dye powders.
However.
When I'm trying to get a particular shade of something, be it blue or yellow, red or green ... I suck.
I had this hat pattern in mind, where I needed particular shades of primary colours for the nautical letter flags that adorn it's brim, but attempt after attempt using my precious handspun failed to produce appropriate shades.  I have now given up, gone stash diving, & found the right colours in some commercial 8plys. (I knew they were in there all along, I wanted to use my handspun & thought I had the knack.  Wrong!)

Ribbit Ribbit

I'm having trouble finding a project that pleases me.  Last night in a fit of frustration I frogged all my WIP's that I wasn't happy with.  Two socks (different yarns/patterns), one hat, one shawl, one blankie (not Yggdrasil the cream cabled one), and a facewasher.
I now have only one WIP left (Yggdrasil).  One!  Not even a travelling sock in my handbag!
My stash room looks like a tornado has swept through it as I've delved into it's deepest reaches searching for some inspiration.  Hmmm .... maybe I could make those yarn angels my friend D suggested a while ago ...  (You know, kind of like snow angels where you lie on your back in the snow & wave your arms & legs, but in yarn - lol)

Mission accomplished!

After much planning & plotting my return yarn bombing attack was a success. I told my lovely friend D (who bombed my front door) that I would have to return the favour & she replied that if I tried to bomb her front door, she had a guard dog.

Brilliant idea - bomb the guard dog!

I figured that a jumper would be the least uncomfortable for the dog, so I took some measurements, made a basic jumper out of some of Lincraft's Cosy Wool & embroidered "Yarn" & created a bomb complete with a lit fuse. I then waited until my gorgeous daughter visited from Melbourne to create a diversion for me, & bombed the unsuspecting creature. She was surprisingly co-operative & loved the fuss being made of her.

Meet Macy, Lismore Yarn Guerrila's new mascot!

Yarnbombing

Last Saturday, June 11, was International Yarnbombing Day. I, together with many others (the Lismore Yarn Guerillas) bombed the main street of our little town.

Every tree, every pole, nothing was safe. We even "bombed" a lovely gentleman who was manning a raffle stall for the local rescue helicopter! (He seemed quite chuffed to be a part of our fun & even posed for photos!!) It was soooo much fun & looked fantastic when we had finished. The mayor even knitted for us & posed for photos too! All in all there were over 70 "targets" covered up & down the street.

Lots & lots of photos, too many to post them all, so here's a linky-dink to more.

And when I came home this afternoon, this is what I found on my front door:

I LOVE IT!!!
The lizard is a dead giveaway as to who the culprit is. "Left Hook" you won't know when, you won't know where, but I'm sure you know I have to return the favour.

Cairn complete.

One finished hat.

I like the hat & am quite pleased with how it turned out, but I don't think I like it on me. Hmmm ... I may have to try to find a different hat pattern. Maybe something slouchier ...

Suggestions?

Something warm

This year, on June 11, for the first time ever is International Yarnbombing Day. I mentioned this little factoid to a couple of friends, thinking it might be fun to cover a lamp post or two & then run giggling anonymously into the night. This little thing has suddenly become bigger than Ben Hur! We now have council approval, a government grant, & have appeared on both the local news (the feel-good story after the weather) & in the papers (most recently the front page of the Echo!!). I can't tell you exactly what we're planning as we're trying to keep some level of surprise, but just know that our target is large & high profile. We'll start on the installation in the wee hours of the morning, so even here in sunny northern NSW, it will be COLD. Hence the need for something warm.

Enter some fingerless mittens. Ideal for keeping hands warm whilst allowing the fingers free to do their thing. The pattern is Cairn by Ysolda Teague. It looks complex, but you only work with one colour per row & slip stitches to create the "brick" effect.

There is a matching hat, but I started with the fingerless mitts as a "tension swatch". It works! I was originally tossing up whether or not to use purple instead of navy blue for the "grout", but I think I like the blue. Now to get started on the hat for a groovy Yarnbombing set!!

Piccie for my beautiful daughter

Hiya sweetie - this one's just for you ... Remember these? (giggle) Gravel with measles!!