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Karen

Piopio New Zealand

Knitter, banker, farmer

Interests: knitting, cooking, gardening, photograhy, walking the hills with Clifford our dog, watching lambs frolic, being creative generally

Recent Activity

Well Travelled Wollmeise

This past week a package arrived at the post office I've been waiting for with some anticipation. My friend/penpal Heidi has sent me some Wollmeise yarn that she managed to purchase for me upon her return home. This yarn has travelled from Germany to New Zealand, back to Germany (oops,... Continue reading

Posted 1 hour ago at Struan Farm

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Beautiful Felted Craft

I stumbled upon these beautifully done, handmade felt and embroidered brooches recently on Pinterest, where someone had pinned them on a craft board. They are made by Jane Smallcombe of Applique Originals in the U.K. and can be purchased via her Etsy site "Design by Jane" here. The quality of... Continue reading

Posted 2 days ago at Struan Farm

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Calling Joseph Campbell

Over breakfast one morning this week John and I were discussing something that we both felt was "soul-destroying." Later in the day I started to think about what the opposite of "soul-destroying" might be. First, I looked up various definitions to make sure I was on the right track. "Soul-destroying"... Continue reading

Posted 3 days ago at Struan Farm

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Mel's New Book: Knitting Gifts for Baby

I've been very fortunate to receive a review copy of Kiwi knitwear designer Mel Clark's newest book, "Knitting Gifts for Baby." Release date is sometime this month. The book has 26 patterns for newborns through to toddlers, with designs for knitters of all levels. It has a great mix of... Continue reading

Posted 4 days ago at Struan Farm

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There was Smoke but No Fire

It's starting to get chilly at night now at Struan Farm, so John went down to The Cottage ahead of Ella, Livvy and Daniel's visit this past weekend to lay the first fire of the season and make sure the fireplace would burn safely. It didn't. Seems someone nested in... Continue reading

Posted 5 days ago at Struan Farm

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Yarn Garage: Show and Tell: Cashmere Bandana Cowl

Hey, Heidi's Cashmere Bandana Cowl is featured on the Yarn Garage's blog Monday, May 13th. Woo Woo! Continue reading

Reblogged 6 days ago at Struan Farm

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Workers' Rewards

Of course I had to reward the workers who helped get the 200 tulip bulbs planted at the main entrance of Struan Farm with a treat, but what? Cupcakes with jelly beans on top! Cream cheese icing with some lemon curd in it that was really good. Ella, Livvy, Daniel... Continue reading

Posted 6 days ago at Struan Farm

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Bobcat Through the Tulips

You will guess (or already know) that we don't exactly tiptoe around at Struan Farm. Not enough time in the day. When I put the word out to John that I had 200 tulip bulbs to plant this past weekend to add a splash of spring color at our new... Continue reading

Posted 7 days ago at Struan Farm

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Watching the Grass Grow

John has managed to get grass seed spread in the areas of Struan Farm that were graded this summer while it's still been warm enough to grow this season. Lovely to see grass sprouting around Jim's Hut down at the river. It's a vast improvement over the summer's dust! Continue reading

Posted May 11, 2013 at Struan Farm

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Random Color from the Farm

These vivid splashes of color caught my eye on a recent sweep of the gardens at Struan Farm. One purple hydrangea bloom resisting change, while everyone else around it has turned burgundy and accepted the changing season: Apricot dahlias drooping over fallen bright pink camelia petals: Continue reading

Posted May 10, 2013 at Struan Farm

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Winter Veggie Garden

Recent rains have helped my winter veggie garden at Struan Farm start to sprout. I've planted a winter lettuce called "Rouge d'Hiver," rocket/arugula, and three different types of kale, including Cavalo Nero. Hopefully a decent stash of kale chips in our future! Continue reading

Posted May 9, 2013 at Struan Farm

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The ewes are busy growing lambs at Struan Farm right now. We think even our black lambs Oreo and Sooty might be in lamb (Oreo <without her tail> is below, I couldn't find Sooty <with her tail> when I was out walking around with my camera). They seem to be... Continue reading

Posted May 8, 2013 at Struan Farm

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The Season's Harvest

I've gathered what I think are the last of this season's walnuts at Struan Farm. Not quite as much as our bumper crop three years ago, but still a decent amount for cooking and the morning porridge during winter. Totally organic of course. They are now drying while I find... Continue reading

Posted May 7, 2013 at Struan Farm

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Signs from the Universe

Big changes in the landscape at Struan Farm happening, evidence of autumn for sure. Over lunch John and I watched from the Homestead in amazement as leaves from the big oak tree swirled and danced in the wind as they came down to rest. But while the big picture is... Continue reading

Posted May 6, 2013 at Struan Farm

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A Hedge Grows in Piopio

No, not a tree in Brooklyn but rather a hedge in Piopio. Laurus Nobilus to be exact, commonly called Bay Leaf, purchased from Wallis Nursery down in Mosgiel (South Island). The plants were delivered and dropped at Struan Farm's gate. I was going to plant them two weekends ago, but... Continue reading

Posted May 5, 2013 at Struan Farm

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Postcard from Fiji

I recently celebrated a birthday (not a biggie) and a wedding anniversary (a reasonable milestone) on the same day in late April. John decided to take me along on a business trip to Fiji to mark these events a few days after the fact. We don't really do resorts well,... Continue reading

Posted May 2, 2013 at Struan Farm

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I guess we all have friends, or perhaps a special friend or three, who know us really well. For me (luckily) one of those persons is my spouse. But there are a few more people out there in various corners of the world who know me pretty darn well, still.... Continue reading

Posted May 1, 2013 at Struan Farm

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Breakfast with the Ladies, Fully Dressed

It was good to have the ladies, now embellished to varying degrees, around the breakfast table at Struan Farm once again. Vivian, Nellie, Tatum, Piper and Amy. All original knitted/felted hat designs by Lisa Cruse. You may recall that during her visit in March before the Embellishment Workshops at Struan... Continue reading

Posted Apr 30, 2013 at Struan Farm

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Injustice More Likely!

Before this little exercise commenced I looked chestnuts up in my "Victorian Flower Dictionary" and learned that they mean "Do Me Justice." This seems fitting, since they have a prickly burr and must be cooked to eat. They aren't easily approached. I was determined to try to make Sarah Raven's... Continue reading

Posted Apr 29, 2013 at Struan Farm

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Amy, Accomplished

So while I simplified "Nellie," I kept going with "Amy." Decided that I needed to do more beaded raspberries and embroidery. I probably could (and should) have kept going on, but decided to call it a day. (Truthfully, I do still think this hat would look spectacular with the beading... Continue reading

Posted Apr 28, 2013 at Struan Farm

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Hard to think of any embellishment other than tattered fabric roses for Lisa Cruse's "Vivian" hat design. I wanted black velvet roses really, since I envisioned her with an elegant, if slightly distressed look. (Think Barbra Streisand in "The Way We Were.") But after no luck at two fabric stores,... Continue reading

Posted Apr 27, 2013 at Struan Farm

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This is Lisa Cruse's design "Tatum Toque," I've called her "Te Reo Tatum" to give her a kiwiana flair. I decided to embroider "lazy daisies" with beads and/or french knots in the centers. Not sure she's done, but she may be: I may need to mull this one for awhile.... Continue reading

Posted Apr 26, 2013 at Struan Farm

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Design Seeds: Coloring My World

This past week I stumbled upon Design Seeds, something that has literally rocked my world. Jessica creates amazing color palettes inspired by photographic images. I haven't pinned so much on Pinterest in one fell swoop since I went onto that site, I was beside myself. It's the combination of color... Continue reading

Posted Apr 25, 2013 at Struan Farm

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Nellie, Simplified

This past week I've revamped "Nellie," de-constructed the more elaborate embellishment I'd auditioned and pared her back to a much more simple look, one that I will definitely wear: This is Lisa Cruse's "Nellie Crush" pattern. I ended up using leftover yarn that I felted to make the bow with... Continue reading

Posted Apr 24, 2013 at Struan Farm

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Hedge in the Works

Exciting to pull into the drive this past weekend at Struan Farm and find that the plants we'd ordered from Wallis Nurseries in the South Island had arrived and were waiting patiently for us: "Laurus nobilus," commonly known as Bay Leaf, fifty in all. They didn't get planted this weekend... Continue reading

Posted Apr 23, 2013 at Struan Farm

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