It must have been 2013, when The Green Dragonfly and I started following each other. (WordPress might know the exact date, but I am too lazy to look it up). Every now and then, Janette would comment on my blog and I would comment on hers – nothing special – that’s what followers do, right?
However, it is different.
Chances are, Janette and I will never meet, as she and her family live literally at the other end of the world from where we are. To fly from her city to mine would take a day. At least. It would mean four different airports and planes. Again: at least. They are getting ready for winter, we await summer. They are in New Zealand, we are in Berlin.
Still, over the years, I came to know her (some) through her beautiful blog and photos, her comments and likes. And every now and then, she and her children (a bit younger than my son) would do stuff we used to do a few years back. Weird. Like playing with crocheted owls. Like wrapping up in granny square blankets.
Like painting rocks.
This is when my son said, „Maybe we can …“ – and yes, we can! So we initiated a rock swap. (Probably the first ever. I don’t think that existed before). Julius chose the rocks and wrote a letter. In English. Just like that. (I’d love to have the confidence of a 12yr old at times). My job was to pack und send our parcel. Simple? Yes. And Exciting!
Today, eight little painted rocks arrived by mail. They came all the way from NZ. It took them less than two weeks. A chocolate kiwi bird kept them company. And we were thrilled!
Thank you so much!
My favorite stone is the red heart on turquoise. Well, and the purple smile. Julius immediately fell for the strawberry followed by the purple rock with all these dots and of course the soccer ball (no surprise here) on yellow or … probably all of them!
Of course, the travelling rocks were subject to close scrutiny: Maia and Carter chose bigger rocks than the ones we sent. They use different paint and they do not color the bottom side. And – the most difficult part (at least for us) – we are well aware of the fact that they hide their rocks, those pieces of art, in parks around the city for others to find …
So, I guess, we have to set them free at some point.
We decided that each of us may keep one (heart = me & strawberry = him), another one will go to our lovely neighbor as she has a collection of stones (probably the purple smile, unless she preferes another). The remaining five will be released, so that strangers (scary!) will find them in Berlin.
Not now. In summer.
For now, we’ll wait for our parcel to arrive in NZ. It should arrive any day from now.
I was tempted for a long time to work with ITO yarns. If only to try it. It is so different from the yarn I usually work with. Elegantly wrapped on cones – so nice. Hence, I jumped at the chance when 
(EMF, Sept. 2017).
Plus, having two fine yarns on my finger meant to knit attentively, if only to make sure to catch both strands with every stitch. No movies, no distraction, not for me.
The design is beautiful. The colors Marisa picked – tangarine, carrot and hydrangea (which is a bright pink) – are stunning. Very bright, very much summer. Instructions are a piece of cake, while rows are getting longer and looooonger …
Zeitgleich arbeite ich an einem (Groß-)Projekt aus Lang Merino. Maschen wie gemalt. Das ist sehr nach meinem Geschmack. So, wie die Entstehung dieses Projektes: ich arbeite unglaublich gerne im Team. Ich mag schnelle Absprachen, Flexibilität, 180°-Drehungen wenn nötig und dann doch wieder zurück, Vertrauen – und genau das geht mit Marisa immer wieder. Seit gestern ist entschieden, wie das was ich stricke, aussehen soll: ganz anders als eigentlich gedacht, aber (wieder) richtig gut.
Auch dieses Projekt ist in sofern ungewöhnlich, als dass durchgängig vier Rundnadeln gleicher Stärke im Einsatz sind. Drei schöne habe ich: 1 x KnitPro aus Holz, 1 x addi click (die mit dem rosa Garn und rechtwinklig darunter) und einmal HiyaHiya Lace (mittig im Bild, sähe man das Kabel, hättet Ihr sie daran sicher erkannt). Die Vierte ist eine Notlösung (auch im Bild). Dass wir früher mit diesen grauen Dingern gestrickt haben, dass es zu diesen gruseligen Plastikkabeln keine Alternative gab, hatte ich irgendwie verdrängt.
Last but not least, habe ich ein „take-along Projekt“ – das sind Socken. Regia 6fädig in hellem Braun mit bißchen Himbeer handgefärbt (was das mal war weiß ich nicht mehr). Die wollte ich eigentlich auf der h+h stricken, aber dazu kam es irgendwie nicht. Wie auch, bei so bombastisch vielen verschiedenen Eindrücken, Menschen, Garnen. Aber darüber blogge ich ein anderes Mal.