Gentle reader,
As many of you may know, I moved to Melbourne from Brisbane about a year ago and these holidays I’m spending two weeks in my home state of Queensland. Week one is almost down, and here are a few highlights! (Please forgive the iffy picture quality; some of the shots and all of the editing were done on my iPod and iPad!)
I LOVE flying, and I love flying even better when you take off before dark and are still in the air after dark. These pictures don’t do the amazing horizon justice. Also, I love photographing clouds. I think they’re totes amazing.
My best friend Panda picked me up from the airport and I stayed at her place in Brisbane which she shares with Audra and Eden who are also amazing peeps and were so generous with their hospitality.
Over the few days I was there, we checked out some great stores, got a Totoro phone trinket, ate crazy amounts of Bread Top, went to visit our lovely friend Kath and her beautiful shop, Handmade High Street. We also went on a wild goose chase for yarn stores – one was shut and one didn’t exist anymore – before we finally made it to Tangled Yarns, which is AMAZEBALLS. They stock Berocco, Pierrot (my fave!), Cascade 220, madelainetosh, and Malabrigo. I’ll definitely be going back there. We also wandered through an antique/bric-a-brac store where I picked up some delightful old knitting patterns (more on that later!). I also got to catch up with my adorable friends, Alf and Robert.
On the Sunday, I visited Judy, one of my favorite people ever (you may remember her from my post about the crochet bolero I did a while back). Her and her husband Peter made the most delicious BBQ lunch, and we relaxed on their back veranda while Suzie and Larry kept us company.
I also snapped Judy in the hat I knitted for her (and finished the night before). I made it using the Hurricane Hat pattern by Andrea Goutier with Noro Kochoran yarn. I’m not sure what color way, because it was just a left over ball from something with no label. I don’t know why, but all those shots came out blurry. Oy. But, Kate will be pleased that I’ve posted another FO. Happy, Kate!? Geesh. ^_~
I also managed to get a bit done on my Bon Qui Qui cross stitch. The picture is terrible, but you get an idea. I drew Bon Qui Qui on some graph paper and then used colored pencils to figure out my color blocking, and then started stitching. I’ve got a looooong way to go, but it was nice to do something a bit different.
Finally, on Monday, Panda dropped me off at the bus depot to catch a Greyhound to my home town. I was super sad to say buh-bye to Pan, and there were some friends I just didn’t have time to visit. But, I was so excited to see my folks, and we’ve been having a great time so far. More to come!
How is your holiday season going so far? ^_^
– R
theshylion.wordpress.com 
Very happy!
Hey Raynor! Bottom lip aside, you sound like you’re having a fine time. I LOVE your friend Panda’s hair – I wish I could carry that kind of colour so well – but methinks my blue (if I dared) might be heading more towards the blue-rinse-set. 🙂 Judy’s hat is great – I haven’t tried Noro yarn, yet but it looks like it knits up well. Have yourself a lovely little Christmas with your folks.
Ooh gosh, that Tangled Yarns store looks fab, I didn’t know you could get those yarns in Australia. Looks like you are having a fine holiday… have a lovely Christmas and New Year! ~ T.
You is teh über-cute.
Looks like you are having a wonderful time! Please send QLD our love, we often miss it. (QLD is both Reubs’ and my own home state!) And it’s funny that you mentioned Handmade High Street! One of my friends from school (Ryan) is involved with that shop… Though I don’t really know how… I’ve just seen his posts about it on Facebook and thought it looked lovely. Small world!
Have a wonderful Christmas! xoxo