And can we have a colour too??

On one of the last sunny and breezy days I needed to dry an order - quickly - so I could get the yarn in the post that day.  So my friends came to have a look and were probably choosing their next colour.  Secretly the sheep were looking for hay (not required yet as there is lots of green grass). 

Today I'm making felt hat bands for my hat kits.  I will have knitted felted hat kits at the Stitches & Craft Show on the 9th May. 

Celebrations this week.

 At the weekend our family celebrated T & A's engagement at a party in Melbourne.  It was a fun party and a joy to see such a happy couple.

Sunday was market day - I had a busy day and must admit I slept on the train coming home.

This photo of Mopsy and a puppy or two was taken by the Portuguese Water Dog breeder Jane.  Mopsy came home yesterday much to the delight of Darwin.  I took both dogs for a walk this morning and there was much excitement.  Mopsy was pleased to leave her puppies.  They have grown up quickly and will be off to their new owners in a couple of weeks.  All the puppies are sold.

Today I'm dyeing fleece, tops and yarn.  It is quite breezy outside so drying will not be a problem. So back to the dye pot.

Stitches & Craft Show

Hawthorne Cottage will be at the Stitches & Craft Show in Melbourne on Sunday, 9th May in Melbourne.  I'll be there for one day only.  You will find me at site i2.  Kylie form Blue Ginger Designs will be at the same Show Site on the other 4 days.

I am busy putting together kits for hats and tea cosies.

 

Hat kits will be available to make hats like this hat.  Instructions and hand made felt hatband will be included.

The Stitches & Craft Show is at the Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne.

Will be back with more Stitches & Craft Show kit and yarn info as I get ready.

Roast Quince

Ther quince tree is still supplying me with the most delicious quinces.  Last night I cooked a roast and we enjoyed roast quince.  I cut the quince in half, scooped out the centre and just lightly sprinkled the quince with brown sugar. No peeling required.  It really was very yummy!

Hat Season is here

There weather is changing and hats are in demand.  Just a couple of new hats in the range.

Popular purple with a dyed guinea fowl feather

And autumn colours with a couple of gorgeous vintage buttons.  And I've been SOLD

Quince Harvest

These quinces are bubbling away on the stove tonight -  eventually I will have quince paste.  There are so many more quinces on the trees.  One of my favourite dishes is quince and apple. 

Just some memories

Today I have been attempting to get through a very long "To Do"  list.  Sometimes I just try to get too much done in one day.  I have packed for the Daylesford market tomorrow - except for the felt I am drying.

Two markets in two days this weekend and when I think about it it that's why I'm trying to get so much finished today.  The house smells so good as I have been cooking .....and thinking................  I have been making  pastry and am about to make Battenberg check cake.  Both recipes are from my paternal grandmother.  As a child I thought the check cake required magic  (not jam) to make the check pattern.

And  more memories come flooding into my mind.  Today is Good Friday and I remember when I was a child Grandpa asking if my brother and I could drove some sheep.  We just loved working with sheep and Grandpa would pay 2 shillings.  However Mum would not let us work on Good Friday.  It almost became an international incident.  There were plenty of cousins so Grandpa just moved onto the next in line!!

I have this photo in my studio.  I have no idea where they were going this day but Nana is really dressed to the nines. Grandpa was Irish and Nana was English.  I have the fox fur Nana is wearing in my camphor-wood box.  At their home Nana and Grandpa always sat opposite each other in front of the fire, Nana knitting and Grandpa - well you won't believe this.  Grandpa used to draw the plan of his farm and then move the sheep from paddock to paddock.  Evey piece of paper, every newspaper was covered with paddocks and sheep numbers - early version of Sudoku

Grandpa used to sit in the same seat at Church every Sunday.  When Father Conway went on a bit long with the sermon Grandpa would get the coughs!!!! I remember being so embarrassed - I wish now that I had giggled.

My mother told me that Nana (who had 3 sons, one being my father) always made sure her sons had 3 pairs of  hand knitted socks and 3 vests.   She knitted all our singlets when we were children.  And my dolls had the best knitted outfits (also in the camphor-wood box)

Now to make the check cake and have a cuppa

Saturday at Daylesford

Daylesford Makers Market is just a couple of days away. More hats have been finished and here are three of hats "with a touch of raspberry "

A knitted felted hat

A chunky cap knitted in raspberry, purple and green chunky yarns and 8 ply.

A chunky yarn cap