the ironed plastic bag pieces have now been sewn together. next step: cut out lining. then: sew lining and outside together along three sides. then: stuff. add velcro for closing. fold and sew along two edges to make pouch. stick in laptop and be happy!

on another crafty note: here is me adding beads to my crochet crown, while waiting for the train.

trying to make a flickr photo mosaic to avoid finishing my uni honours proposal.

about to make pot of tea # 2

thinking about lunch

thinking that i am cold

remembering that i have quite a few things to get done before 7.30 which is when friends come over for dinner

loving that said friends invited themselves over and offered to make sushi. the plan is to eat in = saving money.

it’s brilliant!

And remember: if your dog is on fire, throw a bucket of dirt on it.

I have made some progress on a few knitting projects lately, while attempting to avoid study. Of course, although I have already many projects to be completed, I started work on something new: a pair of gloves for me. The pattern is Ysolda’s Garter Stitch Mitts (a pdf of the pattern can be found on her website). I have lengthened them slightly to cover more arm, and also so that I can wear them in spring with 3/4 cardies and tops. I am quite happy with the results – maybe a bit to tight near the elbow, and a bit loose around the hand, but the pattern is easy to follow, and it doesn’t involve dpns.

The second project taking up my time is the Brompton cardigan by Alice Bell. I am making mine in a blue/grey tweedy 4ply yarn and its is turning out quite well. Maybe a bit looser than i would like, but it will probably end up being a more casual knit then something for an evening out. Still deciding if I will knit a hood for it – i think this will depend on how much yarn is left once i have completed both sleeves.

While I am having a crafty moment, here are a few photos of a blanket I crocheted for my cousins baby (a girl, if you can’t guess by the colours).

gig attended by a good friend and myself in May 2006.

photo taken on a side street in Newtown: December 2008.

me = slightly surprised it lasted so long.

i am now embarking on the next part of my archaeology honours degree: THE THESIS.

part 1 = THE PROPOSAL.

part 2 = stress a lot. drink tea. ruin posture. read. type. read. delete type. re-type. scream.

ok, it’s not that bad all the time. just between work which is stressful, and uni which is launching me into the great unknown, i feel i am losing the plot.

on a happy note: I saw Harry Potter last night. Going in with no real expectations = no disappointment. Yes parts of it were corny, but I laughed quite a bit. The ending was silly and had pointless dialogue, but for friday night: it was light, fluffy and it made me laugh. the main point to remember is: the books are great and have much more detail and excitement to get sucked into. the movies are extra, and if they are any good than that is a bonus.

on another happy note: i have finished re-reading Harry P books 6 & 7 = my life can go back to normal. i tend to get sucked into the excitement of the book which of course means that i can do nothing but read the bloody thing until it is done. can’t talk to people. can’t study properly. must read harry…

here are two snapshots of our new place, on one of the few occasions when it has been tidy. currently it is filled with bikes, heaters and electrical cords plugging in heaters and laptops. such is life!

i am currently being a good student and reading the required articles for my archaeology tutorial next thursday. this week: critical theory. last week some other theory. the week before that: indeed, more theory!  just a bit too much theory for my brain to absorb.

so to relieve boredom, and stave of insanity: knitting!

i finished one project this week: the Rayne Wrap cardigan, I have been making since january. No photos. need to weave in ends before a final photo can be taken.

and of course, finishing one project, meant i could start another: Brompton. I am making this out of a 4ply – 5ply yarn in a lovely lighter tweedy blue. As it is a top-down raglan, progress should be fast, as I have other projects that I really should be working on. but in my mind it is probably better that i work on things i know i will enjoy than rush to finish something, and not have the energy to rip back any mistakes i might make. complacency is a good friend of mine.

I had the opportunity in February to participate in an archaeological field school/heritage management expedition to the Recherche Archipelago off Western Australia.

Here are just a few snapshots from my time on board the STS Leeuwin II.

I didn’t want to leave…

we spent 3 weeks in Sydney. it rained a bit; it got a bit humid; there was some sunshine; and a day of fog. caught up with friends. appreciated some fine art. had a good time in Canberra.

a few snapshots from our time away: 

after the fact, i received justification for the splurge. not that i really needed it, but just in case post-shopping guilt set-in (which it has a tendency to do).

so my 6000 word monorail, which derailed my social life for a few months, was returned to me last week:

i have to confess that on seeing that number in red, i may have bounced down the department corridor (forgetting about anyone who may have been trying to work). i didn’t expect to do badly in this paper, but i hadn’t been at uni for a few years, and i started this course mid-year which meant i missed out on the lead up works to this 6000 word marathon. so to do so well was slightly unexpected.