At long last....

The Silly Season is over !!

I am however, very happy to be looking forward into another new year full of both excitement and challenges.

I also thought I'd make a quick post-Christmas post to drop a little hint about something I'm working on ;)

I've had it in mind for a little while that I'd like to design a knitted pattern of my own, and mid-last year an idea came to me. Now, believe it or not I am not the most technically minded person, so I just put the idea on the back burner and let it simmer thinking it would probably be a lot of hard work.

However, things have finally started to come together and after speaking with a very clever and inspirational friend of mine I am determined to get the ball rolling. I will include as many updates here as I am able to whilst maintaining some level of secrecy, there are so many steps ahead of me that I don't want to end up falling arse over backwards with my own eagerness.

Also, a belated announcement regarding the winner of my Facebook giveaway - a big congrats goes out to the winner Sarah Jane Pascoe Kovacs, who will receive a Paige Babydoll cabled dress (pattern by Rachel Evans) with matching Pinwheel Beanie (pattern by Kath Oxlade-Knack) in the gorgeous 'Vibe' colourway wool by artisan yarn dyer Family Roots.

I'm sure that there was more that I wanted to update y'all about, but I can't for the life of me remember exactly what else there might be so, off to bed for moi!

Go Gently,

~ Jax ~ XOXO

Success! 200 Facebook "likers" and a competition to celebrate!

It must have been serendipity, but I made the call out on the Bird's Nest Facebook page to see if we could get to 200 'likers', and not only did we get there, but we exceeded it and as it stands we have 216 - I am blown away !!

So to celebrate, I'm giving away not just one custom knit but two - and not something that has been on my 'available' list before.

Up for grabs is one custom Paige Babydoll knit - a beautiful dress pattern by Rachel Evans, with an eyelet sash, A-line skirt and gorgeous cabled detail on the side. Here is a link to one I've done previously - First Beach Paige Babydoll (when the pattern was in it's testing stages), I absolutely adore it and have another on my needles as we speak.

I'll also do a custom Pinwheel Beanie to match, and to make things even sweeter - I will add a mystery sweet treat to your package (and will try to bear any dietary issues in mind if I can).

Entries for this competition will be only via Facebook at this stage, so if you haven't joined up yet - now is the time! I will be putting up an album especially for the competition of the yarns I have available for these lovely knits, and to be eligible you must 'tag yourself' in the photo of the yarn you love the most (and would like to have knit up for you).

Entries will be open until Saturday 18th December, and I will draw the winner on Sunday morning (19th December). One entry per person only please, and good luck !!

Go Gently,

~ Jax ~  XOXO

Photo catch up!

Tis the Silly Season indeed, and I can't believe I have let nearly a month pass since I last blogged. In my defense my needles have been flying, with a couple of custom projects as well as various gift items - plus I am well within sight of the finish line with tiKKi's Mystery KAL!

I won't blabber on too much since this entry *is* titled as a photo catch up after all.


Apt for the festive season, I had a request for some 'elf sized' longies and a matching hat:

And I am slowly making progress on a Cassia for my youngest girl (another great pattern by Georgie Hallam at http://tikkifabricaddict.blogspot.com) , with an adaptation of a cabled panel in the front instead of pockets. Just the sleeve edging to go!

I am also making a shawl for my mum for Christmas, and now that a couple of my current WIPs are drawing to a close I can get cracking on this - it is the Adamas shawl pattern by Miriam L. Felton, and I'm knitting it in fingering weight 'Amatista' from 100Purewool. 

I will post up photos of the completed tiKKi Mystery KAL garment once it is complete - I think it will look much cuter if I can put it on a live model ;)

That's it from me for now, but I will close with a promise not to leave it so long again between blog entries - and a reminder that I still have the 'Stripes Ahoy!' Rainbow Dress for sale.

Go Gently,

~ Jax ~ XOXO

Stripes Ahoy! Finally, an item for SALE!

So in amongst the beginning of the chaos that is so typical of the 'silly season', I have actually managed to knit up an 'in stock' item.

What we have here is "Stripes Ahoy!" a gorgeous little Rainbow Dress (pattern by Georgie Hallam) in 100% wool, 3 month size (approx 16" chest).

I managed to scoop up a few balls in a yarn sale a while ago that fell just perfectly into the rainbow pattern, and in order to get the recommended dress length I supplemented it with some others already in my stash (the pinks and purples).

If you are a local to Auckland, NZ, I am happy to accept cash payment on pick up / drop off. I also accept transfers by internet banking, and am also able to use PayPal.

Please contact me by email if you are interested in purchasing Stripes Ahoy! jacquie.bird@windowslive.com Or leave a comment either here on the blog or on my Facebook page.


And just a quick blurb to cover other knitting 'news', I am still plodding along with the Knit-A-Long mentioned in my previous entry - I also have a couple of requests for smaller projects to cover this month, but might turn out another 'in stock' item or two in between all of that and a couple of Christmas presents that I have in mind.

Go Gently,

~ Jax ~ XOXO

A very belated catch up!

My apologies for the delay folks, here is what's been happening.

Firstly, I finished the hats that Tina Snow won for her twins in my first Facebook giveaway when I reached 100 'likers'.

I also had a test knit to complete, but I do apologise - I haven't got photos of it as I wasn't too happy with how it turned out, these things happen sometimes.

Next was a custom Rainbow Dress (pattern by Georgie Hallam at tiKKi), for the gorgeous wee girl of a kindy mum friend:

I am also looking forward to starting my very first KAL or 'Knit-a-long' with some other very avid knitters and fans of Georgie's, you can read more about it here: http://tikkifabricaddict.blogspot.com/2010/10/day-20-sign-up.html (although registrations are now closed).

At the moment I have one other custom knit order on the go, another Rainbow Dress but in cotton, for a gorgeous wee button called Adelaide (6mo size):

And because I'm a little on the OCD side sometimes I try to have just one WIP at a time, but I don't always succeed - which leads me to the scarf that I'm knitting up as a gift for one of my daughter's kindy teachers that's leaving at the end of this week:

I'm knitting it in 'Lake' 8ply Luxury wool from Bendigo Woollen Mills, and quite like how the colour is knitting up - the pattern I have adapted from the Baby Chalice Blanket pattern (I just cast on less stitches to make the narrower scarf).

So, that is all the recent knitting action! I'm trying to think up some way to get my Facebook page 'liker' numbers up, once we get to 200 I will do another giveaway.

I've also ordered and have received some fabulous wools and cottons, let me know if photos of gorgeous wool is something you all would like to see, or if it's just a 'me' thing in drooling over fibre ;)

Go Gently,

~ Jax ~ XOXO

Two things I have learned...

1. Knitting (especially for sale) isn't about money, it's about a love of the craft.

2. Lovingly hand knitted items are *never* sold for what they are worth, they are most often sold for far less than that.

And while I'm in a thoughtful mood, I'll leave you with this quote that tickled me absolutely pink (and that I'm sure many of you can relate to).

"Knitting is a boon for those of us who are easily bored.  I take my knitting everywhere to take the edge off of moments that would otherwise drive me stark raving mad."  ~ Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, At Knit's End:  Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much

Go Gently,

~ Jax ~ XOXO

Roll on October !!

I can't believe we are entering into the final quarter of this year already, 2010, and in a few short weeks will be starting anew in 2011 !!

October is shaping up to be a pretty busy month in our household, and a busy month of knitting too. I have just completed the first summer knit for my youngest girl, which leads me to some exciting news - I am now licensed to knit the gorgeous Rainbow Dress pattern by Georgina Hallam at tikki fabric addict.

So that is a total of three patterns that I am able to do custom knits for, and whilst the two custom spots I had offered for September are now closed, I will be opening more in the next fortnight or so and am hoping to run a competition / giveaway soon if I can get our Facebook page up to 200 'likers'.

I have two orders to complete in the next little while, one from a neighbour and of course the hats won by Tina for her gorgeous twins from my last giveaway, after that though I will see if I can get some stock items knit up.

Last but not least, I have discovered a bunch of beautiful license-free patterns by the incredibly Talented Shannon Passmore of Crafty Desires (over the ditch in Aussie), so if any of her patterns such as the Ultimate Longies, Breezy, or Versa vest appeal to you - please contact me to discuss your requirements for a custom knit.

Go Gently,

~ Jax ~ XOXO