Well I’ve been baking up a storm, knitting up some socks, and working really hard at my new job.
But I’m still listening to music and picking out my favourites.
Love this song. And am definitely hoping they’ll come to Perth later this year. They’re very high on my ‘must see’ list.
Enjoy.
I have one more hat in my collection now.
Its a .
It’s too cute.
The warns us that there is a lot of sockinette (a lot), but I didn’t mind that as much as the rib. I don’t know if there’s a technique that I need to learn, but rib takes me ages. Maybe if I switch to continental it would be easier? I don’t know. I should do some research.
But everytime I do research on knitting I end up getting distracted by pretty colours, or pretty patterns. And end up forgetting what I was researching in the first place.
Anyway, I love this hat, and can see many more in my future. Even just because it was the perfect project to take on the road.
This hat has seen a few awesome bands () and was .
Now for the weather to get a little colder. It’s going to be perfect to put my hair up into, it has plenty of room in the back.
Slouch away!
DCFC are playing Perth Festival. That’s pretty awesome.
This video clip is pretty awesome too.
Its like death cab gave their album to a whole heap of artist friends and said make us some videos. They released a whole album of video clips which I accidentally bought instead of their album, but this was on it so all is well.
Anyone that follows me on instagram would know that I went to Laneway festival on Saturday. M83 were definitely the highlight, followed pretty closely by Girls and The Drums.
But what I think I like most about laneway is the laid back attitude of most patrons. Everyone is there to listen to some good bands and have a really great day.
The sound issues of two years ago had been fixed (nothing worse than trying to listen to the silence which js as much a part of the xx’s sound as their actual music, when the silence is another band in the background), and drink lines and amenity lines were always short and sweet.
Awesome day and awesome vibe. See you next year.
Allow me to get nostalgic for a minute.
I’m going to go see Jon English on Saturday! I saw him 5? years ago when he played in the Pirates of Penzance (my all time favourite musical), but I’ve never seen him as a musician.
I fell in love with the Jon English version of Pirates of Penzance when I was quite young. I borrowed it from the library countless times until the VHS was broken. I now have it on DVD and I still sing and dance along like I did when I was a kid.
I still have a crush on the back up pirate with the red shirt, which is probably appropriate now as we may just be the same age instead of me being 12 and him being much older.
But enough about pirates, this is one of my favourite love songs. Don’t ask me what’s going on in the video, but Jon English is cute and young and his hair is better than mine.
Australia day, we drank Aussie beer, watched cricket, and listened to the hottest 100.
The day after Australia day (hangover day), I resigned myself to my hangover and watched an entire season on My Family and had some quality bonding time with my couch.
Air con was appreciated, particularly as it was pretty hot (42 I think) outside.
Saturday we went shopping for a new tv, and some more lazy viewing.
I bought a crepe maker (guess what we had for dinner) and we watched the Perth Scorchers lose the grand final (boo).
Sunday I finished my sockhead hat, and started a new sock, Scylla.
And started watching series 1 of Buffy. (and since bought the box set). I thought I’d have nightmares about creepy ventriloquist dolls but thank fully I didn’t.
And look what arrived Monday afternoon. The books I thought I’d read on the long weekend.
I am so happy today, to bring you a guest post by the lovely Miss Stina.
It’s inspired me to get out my crochet hooks and learn a new skill. Thanks so much!
~~~~~
Hi!
My name is Stina and I have a blog called Her Name Was Greta. Beks made a great guest post at my blog during the xmas craze, which was a total blessing, and now I got the chance to give back a little. I’m very excited to be sharing my wrist warmer pattern with you, the readers of Polka-dots & Sparkles. The pattern is pretty basic and can easily be adapted to your personal taste. It’s not too hard to figure out if you’re a beginner and only uses two different stitches. I hope you’ll like the pattern and if you make a pair, or 20, please share links or photos! I’d love to see your take on it!
Materials needed:
1-2 skeins of DK yarn
a thin yarn in your colour of choice
4 mm hook
needle
If you are new to crochet, here are some videos to get you started:
how to start
how to chain
how to single crochet
Wrist Warmers Pattern
Chain 35
Join to a ring, be careful not to twist!
Single crochet around and around and around, until the tube is long enough to reach to your thumb.
To make sure your tube is wide enough to fit your wrist comfortably, test is after a few rows. If it’s too tight, start over and chain a few more stitches, if it’s too loose, chain a few less.
Chain 7, skip 7 stitches and continue single crochet for 6 rows.
Cut the yarn and fasten.
Single crochet 1 row with the scrap yarn.
Chain 3, skip 1 stitch, sc 1. repeat all the way around.
Cut the yarn and fasten.
Crochet another one!
This is what mine look like in this fake action shot. Yes, that is water in my teacup.
I had the weekend to myself. Yay!
It’s not very often I do, but as the Mister went on a fishing trip (I love fishing trips) and it was a successful one so he was away for two nights.
Sure it means sleeping alone (being able to hog the bed), and fending for myself (fruit loops for dinner), but it’s nice to have some space too. (I’m trying to make out like I missed him – which I did).
So I cleaned the house and twirled around in new, pretty dresses.
I watched series 2 (including the Christmas episode) of Downton Abbey.
It wasn’t as well paced as series 1, but still enjoyable. I was actually surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
I previously boycotted it, as I didn’t like the way it was being promoted on Australian Commercial Television, but after hearing so many good things on I decided I needed to give it a shot.
I watched everything I could in 3 days. Completely addicted. I grew so emotionally invested, in such a short space of time. I loved to hate O’Brien and Thomas, mourned for Daisy and William, and loved the spunk of Lady Sybil.
Alone time also means Mad Men. I rewatched series 4 (just because I could), as I got dressed up to go to my little brother’s graduation. 3 hours of clapping, but I am very proud that he found something he wanted to study and stuck with it long enough to get a degree (and I’m not saying that because he doesn’t stick with things, because he does. I just believe that’s a massive achievement).
I went shopping and bought some pretty dresses and new tights. Turns out not many places stock tights when its 35 degrees outside. But Myer had a 30% sale, so I stocked up (bright red! love hearts! roses!)
So all in all it was a lovely weekend to myself. And I am definitely glad of a relaxing weekend after the madness that has been the last few months. But it’s about to get hectic again soon.
I’m looking forward to Australia Day this week (4 day weekend). And the lovely Miss Stina is doing a guest post for me! (excitement!)
And then it’s a gig every week in February.
Excitement all round!
Hope you all had a good weekend – get up to much??
We got new curtains installed! That has been on the list since day 1.
When I bought the apartment it had some hideous blue curtains.
Hideous and really didn’t match what I wanted this space to look like.
I bought some grey and black striped curtains pretty soon after, but I didn’t do the research well enough. They were expensive and they didn’t fit.
That annoyed me no end.
They were a constant reminder of how much I spent on an ill fitting product.
So when it came to replace them I didn’t have a big budget. So ikea to the rescue. The curtain rail was ~$10 (score!). I didn’t like any of the non-sheer curtains, but we need privacy. So I had the idea to buy bulk sheer ones and group them.
I think it’s worked well.
I love the flexibility I now have.
They can be sheer during the day, and bulked up during the night.
With the new couch, the place is starting to look cohesive.
It’s so nice having a space to call my own to come home to.
polka-dots & sparkles 