brown owls @ the pub

On Wednesday night (I know it's Saturday. I um forgot I had photos to post) we had a lovely Brown Owls gathering, knitting and embroidering and chatting away, meeting new owls and owls from different places, and learning new things. Beer was had, wedges were shared and the turnout was so big we took over an entire section of the pub. (Please excuse the photos which are dark and blurry, due to blown lighting we were sitting in 'mood lighting', which made for a bit of squinty eyes, a few missed stitches and not-so-good photos.)

.

.

We chatted about having a meeting at the premises of ArtSparks, an art & sewing school for kids that has facilities including big tables and a bank of sewing machines! We chatted about work and babies and projects and admired one another's handiwork. I learnt about circular knitting needles and that yarns are made from twisted together strands called plies, which is why the more plies in a wool the thicker. Ah-huh. Also wool comes in skeins, not just floss. Also how to pronounce skeins (like 'veins' not 'vines'). I started a white soft scarf (because I still can only knit in straight lines). Plus I arranged to adopt Amy's market umbrella for my upcoming markets. It's all coming together..

.

.

Much fun for Brown Owls! Yay!

tonight, we knit

Zebra Quentin Blake

tattoo

.

Tonight I am knitting with Brown Owls. In the interest of research (and to stop myself looking at the clock quite-so-much) here are some knitting-related badges and magnets.

.

.

(Procrastinate? me? noooooo..)

I am a Silly Chicken & Giveaway

I am a Silly FORGETFUL Chicken. I completley and utterly forgot the Brown Owls Christmas Party. I was looking forward to it. I had suggested a location, I RSVPd, I decided what to wear, I had chosen and wrapped a secret santa present.

Then I forgot. At 7pm Sunday night I sat upright, slapped my forehead so hard my eyes bugged out, and swore very loudly.

I blame the uni essays crowding my mind. I blame a lifetime of absent-mindfulness and my current lack of diary and pause of to-do list writing. I blame the alignment of the planets, and my silly brain. Most of all I blame me, which is awful because I really was looking forward to going, and was prepared to face my shyness to do it. I really enjoy spening time with the lovely crafty and funny Brown Owls, chatting about crafty things and thread and the best way to finish a stitch. Sorry guys. My brain.

Now I have gone for a walk, eaten a bag of mixed lollies and stopped swearing everytime I think of it, I am having a giveaway for the gift that was to be the secret santa. Two books, cozy crochet and embroidery.

.

.

The books are brand new and full of tips and patterns and projects and pictures, and quite-darn-nice. To enter this giveaway, leave a comment on this post. If you like, leave a comment about the last time you totally forgot something and felt like a Silly Chicken. It may help me feel better. For an extra entry, post about the giveaway and/or being a Silly Chicken. I will draw the winner next monday.

Unless I forget.

.

Just kidding.

I think.

(edit) giveaway for international peeps too!

whooo whoooo

On Wednesday I went to my first Brown Owls meeting, and it was lovely!

First, pep talks from a work collegue (don't be nervous, you only meet them once and after that they won't be strangers anymore!) and my housemate (go! a bunch of people with similar interests, you'll have fun. Don't you turn around half way and come back!) and I was off on my bike with a paper bag of current craftiness to complete.

I wandered through the bookstore for half an hour, too shy to go upstairs (it's a very nice bookstore by the way!), but then I took a deep breath, trudged up the stair, took a seat and pulled out my knitting.

Me= 1 Shyness=0

I had a lovely time chatting and soaking in all the craftiness. It was just swell to sit amongst all that thread and fabric and stitchin' and knitting and discussion of various techniques and craft fails and craft successes. I also met some fine bloggers I have been following for a while, it's a strange feeling to meet someone and already know that they have a penchant for trolleys, or a collection of teacups.

(Note: Jess, the lovely lass with the penchant for tea cups and books is hosting a surprise giveaway to celebrate her 100th post! Head over to her sweet blog The Crafty Librarian to enter.)

.

You can see more photos at the Brown Owls members blog. Can't wait for the next meeting!