Wednesday, 22 February 2012

More Funny For Your Week -- Mel's T-shirt

Yup, this is the shirt I'm wearing at the moment. It made me laugh so hard in the USA when I saw it that I knew I'd have to get it and wear it often. It's a rotten colour, but I still like it. And those of you who know me personally will know just how bloody funny this shirt is for me to wear.

As for the book, The Cat in the Hat? It was the first book I read myself cover to cover. I loved it. Still do.

Biz Update: the contest details are posted to the SIOz Ravelry group. Avva look! If you have been unsure about whether to join an SIOz fibre or knitting club this year, don't sit on the fence! Come and join us.

The first pack is called Practically Magical -- and it's been a huge hit. Thank you for the positive feedback re the colour and the sock design. Thank you heaps! The packs were posted on the 15th and already 1 knitter has finished her pair!

melissa

Tuesday, 14 February 2012

A Biz-Post -- First Club Packs Out This Week

Hello to clubbies and wanna-be clubbies. February is here and that means the first yarn and fibre packs for 2012 are due to ship out at the end of this week!

I must admit, the colour and theme for this first pack was a big challenge. You'll see what I mean when you get it, as those of you who are SIOz fans know I favour certain colours over others. Can't help it, it's the way I roll.
The yarn? A best-seller from 2011. The fibre? By far one of my most popular blends. NO PEEKS!

So this month? A total departure! And it's on the wild side!

 If you still want to join the 2012 Club fun, you can jump onto the webshop and do so! Back to the salt mine! Melissa

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Have a Laugh at My Expense Knitters and Spinners! Mel's photos way old, old, and newer

 Mum, Sis, and Me
  Dig the Rebel Stance!
Posing at 5 (LOL)

 
17 and helping my friend Judy's family make wine.
Looks like my tongue is purple. Hmmmm. How did
THAT happen?
 Angela and Me at the Ramones, 1979 -- Love the Fiorucci Shades!

 
 All that clubbing tires a woman out - 1982
Nice Shot Donna -- think it coulda been a bit
 more ladylike is all I'm sayin, m'kay?

 London in the '80's  - Give me the damn camera

 Please, please, please, stop playing Cats

 Portugal, Xmas, 1983 Staying with a Port Wine-Producing Family
No, officer, we're not drunk, we've only been drinkin' PUNCH!


And 2, much more recent and special piccies -- by far! 
Melissa takes her AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP!

So ok, have a laugh -- I don't know which one is my fave? The attitude stance at 5 or the Aussie Citizenship photos. Anyway, doing a new year's clean out has its benefits. 

Bye, for now, M

Saturday, 28 January 2012

Soy Hand-Paints at the Port Markets

Wild Mix One Soy DK by Stranded In Oz

The new lots of Soy DK, Soy Lace (16/2), and Soy Bulky Ribbon will be at the Port Markets tomorrow. They will be loaded onto the webshop Monday.

It is sheer joy for me to paint these yarns, which I only work with when it's really really sunny weather. If you are looking for something really special to knit with for that special project, check 'em out. All of these yarns are genuine Soysilk@. If you've not enjoyed knitting with other types of soy yarns -- forget the bargain stores stuff and try the real deal from Stranded In Oz.

In the midst of the painting, order-packing, and prepping for the first club packs, I've been working on new designs and projects for the 2012 season. Oh, and planning new show displays. It's a very busy time here at Oz Central. Thank you for your continued support and knitting and spinning camaraderie.

Back to work I go, Mel

Monday, 9 January 2012

January Knitting at Stranded In Oz

The pileup that is my life in January has buried me with a vengance. The winding machine arrived. Great news, but that means a pileup!

Taking advantage of a few cloudy days to knit some design work and wind yarn in order to get the wool ready for sunny sunny Adelaide summer.

Eagerly awaiting the postie, who has most of the new stocks of commercial as well as undyed yarns for the 2012 knitting year! Amongst the piles of boxes is more fibre as well.

The hardest part for me is deciding the order in which the yarns will go up for sale, both in general and specifically for the Stranded In Oz knitter's club.

In between planning, knitting, spinning (just a teensy bit), I've been catching up on music. Verdict? The sound system here needs a serious upgrade! Working with a small radio just isn't cutting it.


holiday spinning - Queen Anne's Garden Merino/Lyocel

Back the the pile, M

Tuesday, 3 January 2012

Handspun Alpaca - Beach Box Inspiration




Mmmmm -- handspun alpaca (100% Australian-grown, processed, and dyed!) Spun up over the holidays by JotheCrafty. Gorgeous stuff. Jo advises she thinks it looks like fairy floss. 

Alpaca is one of those fibres that I least enjoy painting -- it doesn't always give me the effect I want from my painting process. This batch came closest to how I envisioned it to look at the end, so that's really cool. Since this was the fibre for 2012 Dec, it seemed fitting to choose a colour from my list of Beach Box colourways. 

If you like this type of colour, check out the organic cotton lace in Beach Box on the webshop:


Happy New Year from Stranded In Oz. There are some really fun and inspiring yarns heading this way. I'm working on the plans for each line so that when it hits my door, I'll be ready to get going right away on the new lots.

Some of you who read the Ravelry postings on the SIOz group heard my news: the winding machine broke! Yup, the new one has been shipped, so fingers crossed this much-needed piece of equipment arrives safe and sound. Much swearing could be heard on our side of town when the previous one went CRACK!

Mel, in stinkin' hot Adelaide


Thursday, 29 December 2011

A Personal Entry at Year's End - warning no knitting content


This is what happens when you catch up with friends over the holidays:

You know you are ancient when you have nostalgic convos with your old uni pals. Rang an old bud from the dark ages, that period of the very early 80’s when our music was really f’in loud and our hair seriously short and crunchy. 

Well, at least mine was. Dear Donna remembered how bloody poor we were – no phones (‘cept the shite one in the halls hallway), no spending money, and really crap food. Well, I only remember eating Saturday or Sunday am after an all-night outting with friends. She recalls she did actually eat at the dining hall on occasion. Being a veg, the sight of ham salad on the salad bar, well, let’s just say it seemed safer to me to drink Tab and smoke cigarettes than trust the ‘salad’ bar.

That said, she was remembering how absolutely penniless I was one summer living in the Back Bay of Boston. Yup, I remember I had to borrow packets of 2-minute noodles from a mate who lived nearby. He lived on the things so much so that he’d buy an entire grocery store case of the suckers and glued it to his kitchen wall, with a cutout where the packets could be conveniently dispensed. Just in case you weren’t sure what that was for, there was a sign on the box that said, Take One.

I wrote a 2-minute noodle cookbook (wrote them out by hand with drawings) and gave them to friends. I wonder if anyone still has one of these gems of culinary publishing.

Good times people.

Donna also reminded me how much I pissed her off going out mid-week when she’d have a management exam. See, if you loved music, the way I did, that major was simply OUT. Too many exams. Me? I figured out early that an English and Communications major involved writing lame papers and working on ‘projects.’ No exams to cut into the club schedule you see. Donna Donna Donna, how could you not have known this?

One thing that came in handy were her management textbooks. I recall one evening when we used her Fundamentals of Management (or some such wanky title) to cut cheese slices (nice thick cutting board) to go with our Mooseheads (or was it Molson?). This was the night we decided to write fake answers to personals ads in the local cool free paper. So after a few of our missives (man wouldn’t it be great if I had a copy or two?) we sealed the envelope(s) and went for more beer at the Star Market.

Next morning I said, hey, let’s read some of those letters. She said, WHUH? After all, we had worked our way through some at least ½ a slab – no M, we mailed ‘em.

Well, that sent us into hysterics. A few days later I (I think I must have signed a few) WE got a reply. The result was a very strange d00d and one really strange song Kenne Highland wrote called Froggy. Uh, I kinda helped over a lunch break. Do I have a copy of the recording session still? Oh yes I do. Can you hear it. No you can’t.

Good times Donna. I’ve decided I’ve remained in contact with D when I’ve not done so with anyone else from that time. Why? Insurance. She knows way too bloody much.