keeping up with the jones

testing testing 123....

2011-12-16T14:32:00.002+08:00

healing

2011-10-21T08:35:00.003+08:00

it came in september
the inevitable
my brother fell asleep and the angels danced
he was gone
it has been so hard ...and final...
but i promised paul that i would not be sad ..[so hard]
he would not have wanted me that way..this i do know..
there were five rainbows on the day of the funeral and i know he was busy painting the sky..
every time i see one from now on..i will have my chat with him..
healing time now ..as i come out of the grieving labrynth..i do feel strangely different..not bad or awful but i am seeing things in a whole new light...a cleansing.
my lethargy is subsiding and i feel new and creative things stirring..
the summer is almost upon us and the sun is a welcome warmth that penetrates the bones..ahh lovely..
i want to grow things ..i am doing..
i want to watch things happen slowly..i am
i am going to enjoy..i will
i want to love..i am already there
i am not wealthy..i am rich
i can breathe ..i am lucky

the beast

2011-09-07T08:45:00.002+08:00

the beast
i haveto excorcise my thoughts
and there is no better way than writing them down..or so they say..
the beast knows no boundaries
it lurks
it destroys
it has no eyes ..no mouth..no ears
it has a deep blackest of black heart
the beast attacks the young,the healthy,the newborn and the infirm
the beast lulls you into a sense of security..thinking that you have tamed it..
then the beast rises and consumes with the most ferociuos speed that you can't catch your breath..
it wins ..the beast claims another ..mother ..brother..husband..child..friend..the list is endless
the beast knows that it will die with its host..but it doesn't stop it..
the beast will always win...in the end...
yes there are miracles.
not in my world
the beast always wins..
in my world
i have the scars to prove it
they are of course invisible to the human eye ..but they are there..
i am not even going to give the beast its real name ..it doesn't deserve it
it deserves nothing
i am calming now as i write
i am processing
i am still waiting for the imminent death of the beast
it will be soon
then my wonderful beautiful life loving brother will be gone....

a blip ...

2011-08-01T07:54:00.003+08:00

my life has hit a huge blip...
that is why blogging seemed so insignificant that i just simply didn't want to do it!

but i think and hope that the blip is dissolving and life seems to be getting there..

one thing i know is that my blog does make me finish my creative projects and diarising them is the most kick up the jacksy that i do need..

what does a couple of messy court cases..one 6 yr battle in the family court..one 2 year battle with a scamming nieghbour over a fence...finding out a sibling has a grade4 glioma brain tumor..do to ones life???

you shut down..close ranks..defend at all costs..you retreat into your little cocoon..

but you have to work to pay for all the chain of command ..and my job and dear close friends have pulled me through..the invisible silver thread...

the glue..

they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger...yes i agree..but it does leave you with a rotated pelvis and a stress reading of 1158%..

however my pelvis is unrotating as my body and mind are now retracing and the road back isn't as bad as the road forward..

but there has been constancy in my life ..my friends ..family ..work...and my craft

in my solitary solace there have been thousands of stitches knitted ,crocheted and stitched..

wonderful therapy indeed..

now to attack 6 months of stash building...i think i know where i am going??

wowza liberty

2011-02-23T07:56:00.004+08:00

everbodies doin it ...

this crochet pattern i mean..

me too ....in very fine yarn indeedy..

enjoyable...hmmn...have to say yes..

and at this time of the year the anticipation of the new liberty arriving is like having an itch that you can't scratch...

so i was looking through my vintagey bits and just had to share this one with you...in virtual space ..you know what i mean..

off to hook some more..

new yarn..

2011-01-30T09:16:00.002+08:00

new yarn..yummnn
i love the essence of the search...the hunting down...
and i found these jewels from the northern hemisphere at juno fiberarts..

finished...

2011-01-28T14:00:00.006+08:00

was quite pleased with the crochet top from rowan no 47 ..design from a favorite ...marie wallin..

i did change the yarn from rowan summer tweed to a new yarn called revive...

you can see this design in the flesh at calico&ivy...mosman park..

also have put up the 4" squares on my design wall and a bit more fiddling and twiddling before i can join them up...

might have a nana nap this arvo ...26 degrees overnight and a sweltering 38 now ...and high humidity too...

still we do live in oz!!

keep cool ...

160 already and waiting..

2011-01-26T15:22:00.005+08:00

feeling pretty good..

16 piles of 10 different liberty lovelies..

160 4" x 4" =one soon to be quilt..

as soon as my sewing machine is discharged from the sewing machine hospital..

i am going to work it's little butt off...

can't wait..

liberty and dog sitting..

2011-01-19T13:34:00.003+08:00

not only am i on nana/mum duties for 3 whole weeks as my daughter is on her nurses prac...no 1 son arrived and asked if i would baby...er puppysit overnight??

here is Hurley [extremely cool surf label ] a cross chihauha /maltese ...but i'm sure he is a midget wolf hound??

so i've been cutting out my next project from my liberty stash..i need 160 different 4'' squares.

no mean feat as i am on a whirlwind ..what with the dogs...the kids...the shopping ra ra ra...

but cutting out is a soothing and replenishing pastime

oh and i forgot ..crocheting ....when i do sit down for 10 mins or so...

counting my blessings

2011-01-16T08:49:00.005+08:00

i am praying for all the flood victims on the east coast..

but i cannot watch another media frenzy on the subject.

the tragedy strikes through to the core of your being..

but then you start on a spiral of doom and gloom.

so i have donated and have nothing but absolute and total admiration for all the heroes
my mind then becomes confused and mayhem ensues as i try to ask 'why'

can't answer that one..

so what do you do??

i start a new crochet project to heal me...

you cannot think while repeating ...3 treble into next chain space ra ra ra..

so in my little world i am now ..for the moment...choosing to do some crocheting ...to zone out

so blessings to them all wherever and whoever they are...you are not alone...bless

new year ..new paint

2011-01-09T16:13:00.005+08:00

what is with the new year and a desire to renew and refresh??

what better way than a new color to enter your life..

peppermint green for the beach shack...

a truly stark contrast to the cerise bougainvillea growing over the side fence...a little touch of the mediterranean....

my promise to me...

2011-01-01T09:29:00.003+08:00

happy new year to you all...

2010 definately shook the foundations of my life..

but...

lessons learnt

my promise to me is..

always make time to smell the roses...
breathe ....s.l.o.w.l.y..

always see the good..

grow things...

make things..

and support my sister...who i shall know who she is in about 3-4 weeks..

my sister found from WOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL SPONSERSHIP...

seek and you shall find ...

and i found her ...whoever she maybe..

all i am sure of is this woman maybe a mother daughter wife and sister who has had the most horrendous life due to no fault of her own..

all these horrific pieces of her life have made her a victim of war in her country..

she will probably be a victim of haneous sexual warfare..

i wept when i read the stories ..

i was deeply moved and signed up without a moments hesitation

can't wait to meet you ..whoever or wherever you maybe..

thank you to the universe for sending you to meXXXXX

tired and vintagey

2010-12-22T08:56:00.005+08:00

feeling a little jaded and energy levels on the low side...

still i must not let it get to me...

my old elsa bear has the right idea ..she amazes me in having the knack of finding the most comfy of spots for snoozing...and she snoozes a lot...

i love vintage xmas ornaments...

can't help wondering the xmas's they have seen....

a wonderful xmas to one and allXXXX

fire in the hold...

2010-12-02T10:00:00.005+08:00

this week has been a real hellraiser..

we have had ..and are still ...had a massive bushfire too close for comfort..

so i have moved into the beach shack 6 kms down toward the beach..

then some bloody idiot decided to light a fire ..just give him to me and the other residents when they catch them!!!!

so i retreated to my happy place and finished another liberty beauty[3 now]..i must mention that i would not have come this far as a quilter? if it wasn't for my best buddy ...pat....thanks pat ..you inspire me so so much..

now i am going back to my happy place to retreat into my bubble...cos i really don't like the outside world very much at present ....it's full of crappy people doing crappy things ..and i am hanging by a thread..

i want the joy back ...NOW....

a comet arrived...

2010-11-14T08:01:00.004+08:00

the universe had something special for me this week...
it sent me a comet...
the comet arrived as every comet does ..fast and furios...unexpected ...and leaving behind a trail of debris and destruction...
a close family member has now a journey to make ... a chemo journey..
the sheer disbelief and inadaquacy that floods the emotions is gargantuan..
i have cried a river ..not only for my dear p...but for all the loved ones who have fought and gone before...oh cripes here i go again....
i thought maybe writing it down i would feel better..but i don't....not one incy bit..
so i am putting my love into stitches as requested ..a chemo cap..
but i shall call it a love beanie ...so there..
and you mr comet can go and take a flying leap...so there..

.

a nice bit of real estate...

2010-11-05T08:21:00.005+08:00

okay ..okay...

you have to be a french royal aka mare antionette...

a girl can dream ...right...

can't believe i was there just a few weeks ago..

hmnn funny how life gives you flashbacks...

old friend

2010-10-26T08:31:00.002+08:00

caught up with an old friend today..
gee it felt good..

no words today...

2010-10-24T08:48:00.004+08:00

no words today...

why do we do these things???

2010-10-22T07:21:00.003+08:00

why do we do what we do??

someone please explain why i wore odd shoes to work on monday????

and someone please explain why ..on same day ...night ..i washed my mobile phone in the washing machine...yes but it was in my pocket!!!

phone totalled...maybe a good thing?

and i will alway's look at my feet before leaving the house!!!

tiles ...tiles...luverly tiles...

2010-10-20T12:18:00.004+08:00

the beachshack reno is on schedule...

we now have lovely clean white ones in ' little kitchen'...

blinds are coming down ...they are NOT staying...

and the yellow shower is a waterproofing jobbie..

white tiles in the shower soon..

hmmn...something happened
..in the tile showroom ...i was going to go for the white floor tiles too..but..

then i saw...no i spotted a retro greeny kath kidston kinda color and the whole showroom disappeared...
.....the green tile called to me and i fell in love with it???

green..matt and green grout...green grout...what the..

and when i put the tile on the floor i was complete..

yeah will look bloomin marvellous...

we're on the move....

2010-10-06T09:59:00.002+08:00

we have after GREAT deliberation decided to move...
we have had a 2 bedroom x 1 bathroom [oops 0 bathroom] beach shack for a few years now.
so the time feels right to downsize so to speak...
a lot of behind the scenes dramas have brought us to this point and maybe one fine day i can share but not at the moment..
beach shack was purchased several years ago ..originally we were going to tear it down and build another as the shack sits on a 1000 square metres..but things change...
so the shower which was a leaky hellity hell of a thing...had to be stripped down ...nearly to bare earth...
enter the tiler ......TILER....PLEASE UNIVERSE SEND ME A TILER.....
after 4 hit and misses the universe sent me chris....dear sweet lovely ..member of the tradeseman's guild..chris...i thank the universe..
so the almost nightmare has turned out ok..
so off to choose tiles...white and more white methinks...
so maybe blogging about this little ...ahmm...upheaval will keep me on track...
i do not want a hellity hell reno!!
don't fancy my chances....stay positive ...b.r.e.a.t.h.e...

nb...bye dear emily we will miss you...and see you after your BIG adventure..xxxxxx

need...

2010-09-29T08:40:00.002+08:00

i have an itch that i needed to scratch..
yes indeed....a need
so i knit a tea cosy and crocheted a few more of my milleflore ..
and all the while thinking of marie-antoinette and her petit trianon ..
gee i must come down to earth ..
tea cosy aka a tad marie-antionettish..me thinks

home...

2010-09-27T08:17:00.004+08:00

well hello to one and all...

i am home ...i can now officially say that out loud...home..

i am totally and utterly content to be back in australia..home...

i did have a wonderful ,wonderful time but something unexpected happened while i was in france

all my senses became acute and i knew ...for the first time in 14 years ..why we made the move to australia....everything became so clear and reinforced...

i had come home and i now know i am an australian...both officially and in my phyche....

so on with the adventure..

we had the most lovely apartement above a bakery and every morning buttery waves would waft up and the smell was ...well lets just say you HAD to have a croissant...immediately ...

as you can just makee out in the photo you can see how close the eiffel tower was to us and on a night time we were privvy to a glittering light show...
the first four days were business and to say that was interesting is an understatement..

so we have some beautiful things coming into calicoandivy soon...

let us just say ...i do know what it takes to choose a ribbon!!...and how long!!

so if you can bear with me and my twittering on i shall give you all a run down how my french trip unfolded
until next time ..

gee missing the croissant already...

cath goes to paree..

2010-08-25T09:36:00.003+08:00

yes well cath [kidston] is coming to paree with me...

as i have not travelled for sooo long since arriving to oz ..i am a little unsure as to what to take..

if it wasn't for my dear friend kim ..i would have nothing to wear..

kim has dressed me for the journey and i can't wait to wear my new clothes

those who know me know i am a fan of cath [a girl can't fight her roots]

so my little darling of a silk jacket arrived and this will be coming with me..

so i will be button hunting to replace the 4 buttons on the jacket while in paree

also the messenger bag [also cath] is coming along too

a girl has to have a big bag for all the purchases one has to make!

and those little 1/2 inch hexagons in liberty of course are my travelling project?

we will see how much i actually sew!!

well i am signing off now as i need to pick up momentum for the holiday/shopping trip/sightseeing/drooling/ooing and ahing/not much sleeping/and i have soo much to sort out ..

and this i can promise you and myself...I AM GOING TO CHERISH EVERY MINUTE...no make that..

EVERY SECOND...

AU REVOIR ...

back in 3 ..... weeks that is oh and be careful what you wish for as you just might get it! i did!

countdown..

2010-08-20T09:51:00.006+08:00

well i am on the countdown....2 weeks to go to paris ....yay

i have a head like a toyshop...at least that is better than having cemented sinuses..all gone and i can b..r..e..a..t..h..e... again ..wonderful

then as i was coming throught the fog ...my grandie asked for a quilt with strawberries and some caff kidsum [cath kidston] ...so off we trotted to the stash and strawberry fields was born.

i love 4 inch squares..

they are a perfect size..
so what do i do when i have soo much to organize??

i quilt

and i start a new crochety project...also for the grandie..

we picked out bright and bright it is ..so different to my normal palette..

baby cashmerino has such a yummy selection ..you can never get bored

oh and i am also getting my crafty project together for the 21 hr or so journey ...

let u have a sneak peak next time..

so toodleoo and off to the machine i go ...

super bugs and spring....

2010-08-13T10:15:00.004+08:00

hello ...

no the car didn't crash into the tree!!

forget the car [son's left over after using said car 'for bits'] spring is definately here.

the blossoms are blooming and blooming they are..

also a beautiful bowl of yellow tulips as a thank u from a knitting friend...lovely..

now to super bugs...of the fluey variety ..

i have escaped these deadly little so and so's all winter long .

but then the inevitable happened and bang i got one..right up the nose..literally..

infected sinuses..and yeah a course of antibiotics is the only thing that will take away cemented sinuses...

then the probiotic to help the antibiotic..not to mention when you can take these...hmm is it on a empty stomach or with food????

it's all too hard

but i can deal with ALL THIS ...

yes i can ..

because you see....I AM OFF TO PAREE..........

in september i am flying with deb ...calicoandivy...to paris ....yes yes yes to paris...

so no amount of sinus or s... is going to stop this little girl from getting REALLY .REALLY ..EXCITED...

so i'm off to sniff some wasabi up the nasal cavities ....cos i really have to get rid off this before i'm off to paree.....

love letters...

2010-07-23T08:50:00.006+08:00

well...the six week nana duties are coming to an end..phew!!

the kids are sad...

i however am a little sad but i am looking forward to some me time..

my craftiness has suffered a lot but really i have been rewarded in another way..

seeing life through my greandchildren ..the millions of questions...and the joy of watching them sleep ...the thank you's...the utter appreciation with no questions asked...

the greeting when i come home from work...EMPTY lunchboxes ...

so how do you keep a 9 and 6 yr old occupied?

you get them to thread little glass beads on your koigu [yarn speak]..all with supervision of course...great little lesson in counting 80 beads pr ball...and great little lesson in concentreation and dexterity...

and saves nana doing it!!!

colour my world

2010-06-27T11:05:00.005+08:00

aplogies for the lack of bloggy stuff

i am on nana ..mother duties for the next 6 weeks as my daughter is on hospital prac..

so i am soo busy with a lively 6 and 8 year old to look after..

by the time i have packed lunch boxes [ not to mention the shopping ] swimming and dancing lessons.... drop off and pick up from school..there are only so many hours in a day..

but i am still finding a little time to craft ...in front of the tv..before i 'm ready for bed at...8.30pm

now i know why nature invented the menopause...cos...nature did not intend for you to have babies late in life!!!!...good old mother nature...she sure is wise..

finished...

2010-06-04T09:38:00.003+08:00

another pair finished..
so i decided to take them on a little adventure today..
to the ...dentist...yuk..
these little socks are so quick as there is virtually no leg to knit...
oh and i do adore this multicolored koigu...pure joy to work with..

ooh feels like winter...

2010-05-30T11:18:00.006+08:00

i love this weather ...dry and sunny ..but with a nip in the air..

don't get me wrong ..i love 9 months of summer..but when the mercury plummets my juices rise

so this morning we went off to the farmers market..

look..i have done the growing your own veggie thing..and fruit..all of which have succumbed to a smorgasboard for the local wildlife..so i have given up on that little project..

so the organic, biodynamic etc lovely people who do it really well have me as a regular.. from now on..

so i came home with broccoli, beans and watercress...biodynamic plums
and one of my favorite ..persimmons..

homebaked and gluten free carrot cake and florentines....nice for the 3 0'clock munchies..

and a bunch of flowers for moi...

so i have in the oven...roasting ..butternut pumpkin, red onions ,sweet potato and parsnips.

and my sl...o...w... cooker is on cooking a soup made from today's medley of veggie...more of a casserole i think ..

and i had to take a photo of one of the girls sitting in a plantpot by the back door ..she is actually taken quite a shine to this pot which has thyme in it..so at least her little bot will smell divine..

chicken in a pot...not for this little honey ...i don't mind her using it as her little bed...

have a great weekend..

winter is fast approaching...

2010-05-25T09:33:00.004+08:00

what do you feel like doing when the nights draw in and the temperature starts to drop???

knit socks...

i have had a rummage through the old sock yarn stash and pulled out a few ?

there are some lovely mixes...bamboo and wool...silk and wool...and seacell?

but for me it's the colors ...yes definately the colors..

so i shall wind these babies into beautiful balls and proceed throughout the winter months and knit socks,socks and more socks..
i once gave a pair to a man who was a really proffesional top ceo of a huge company...and when this super high corporate flyer opened the humble parcel and saw his socks...he cried...

not the loud moaning cry...but a soft tear appeared in the corner of his eye..

when he recovered he said ..'i will treasure these as i know how much love goes into each little stitch as when i was a small boy i would watch my grandmother knit ..and all she knit, was socks for all her boys ..and i was one of the lucky ones..and i still have a pair in my posession although worn out..'

he took my breath away...

and every time i show someone the craft i tell them this little tale and hope that the person who recieves them thinks about the love stitches in each wonderful pair..

and remember 'an average sock contains around 17000 stitches..that's 34000 a pair..

socks are only small but by stitch count they are immense...

the law of attraction....

2010-05-19T10:40:00.004+08:00

i have yearned for a vintage caravan forever..
owning one seemed so far away..
when i was a child every weekend was spent at my nanas caravan at saltburn -by-the -sea.
so many happy memories ..so many happy times..
then the child grew and married and had children and grandchildren of her own..
i bought the frankie mag a month ago and then proceeded to buy the above book..
oh how the wanting returned..
then my lovely husband came home and said he had something to show me..
so off we drove and then....i saw her...and she is all ours..
1945 is the year she was made ...and she comes to live with us in a month's time..
so i thank the universe for bringing her to us..
i think she will deserve her own blog..it's only fair..
and her name....I WANDA...but we shall call her WANDA...
let the memories begin.....

playing with flowers...

2010-05-12T09:40:00.006+08:00

i had to check out a new yarn.....

debbie bliss eco baby cotton..

a dream to work with...

beautiful ice cream colors ..and a little turquiose thrown in for a bit of pop..

i still miss my ripple though..i may have to start another ...okay ..mind is made up.. tootling off to the STASH...oohh i love this part .

i think this the best bit ..putting the colors together...

rummaging through past yarns ..reaquainting...touching... and reconnecting..

another hooky project finished..

2010-05-11T14:47:00.003+08:00

another pillow ..or should i say cushion ..finished..

i think i get the most satisfaction from the journey ..

but ..yeah...i likey very muchley..

hope you do too...

rippleathon...andon...andon..

2010-05-04T16:09:00.005+08:00

my ripple is finished ...yahoo

162 rows of trebles...450 trebles in each row

...72900...72900 trebles that my little hands have hooked..bless em

also 40 mins per row..

108 solid hours..

so this ripple was no mean feat..

but i will miss it..

i may suffer serious withdrawals..

but i do have other hooky stuff going on too..

i do love my ripple ..but so does someone else..

the pampered persian has the aversion to knead her puddings...ohh no siree..

not on your nelly ..not on this blanket..

and i must thank fi from marmaladerose fame for her inspiring 20 mins a day..as this is where it all began..

so now i will just admire my hooky handy work ...and i must ring about insuring my hands..just to see how much they are worth..

ps sorry about the comment button mysteriously dissappearing
...i was trying to be clever and moderate my comments..but nah ..i made matters worse..so everything should be back to normal..

what a lucky girl i am...

2010-05-02T09:40:00.005+08:00

firstly thank you to my friend leah...a gorgeous bunch of bright happy flowers were brought to me at work ..they made my heart skippity skip...
then the new sophie digard scarves came in....

i succumbed to this linen beauty ...isn't she gorgeous... a true work of art...

i treasure these scarves...

the detail is second to none..

some people collect art and hang it on the wall..

i wear mine around my neck ...

i am a woman posessed...

2010-04-28T08:35:00.002+08:00

posessed is the right word...

now i am only 5 rows short of finishing my ripple..i can't stop..

the hook has a mind of it's own...

any excuse throughout the day...i sit and ripple...

then a beautiful friend brought me a distraction...

some vintage liberty tana's..

soooooo.....

i' have' to finish ripple so i can start sewing again ...

i am missing it just a tad lately ...

but i can't tear myself away from ripple...

so i am on a mission ...

i should have ripple finished this week ...

hmmnn....have to think about an edging??
then on to the liberties...

are we there yet??....

2010-04-26T18:12:00.004+08:00

nearly.........

whingeing pomm???

2010-04-23T16:05:00.003+08:00

hmnn i am a little bit...

well at least for this week..

had more downs than ups..

so i decided to treat myself to my fav mag... a bright non cath kidston tea towel... oh and a bunch of lilies...nothing like flowers to make a person happy..

so off to have a cuppa cha .. a kitkat... and a read...

so that should take away the whingeing pomm in me !!???

hooky madness...

2010-04-20T08:30:00.002+08:00

a little... no ...a lot... of hooky madness in my abode at the moment..
you see i am going back to teaching this week...
i have not taught for a while now and have decided to have a class for crochet..a combined effort with my friend danielle...we will have a ball..i'm sure..
we will be teaching a flower class this friday at calicoandivy...
and....my ripple is nearing completion..geez it's heavy...
so off i will trot to hook some more...i am so enjoying diving into my wool stash to retrieve little lost..[at least they thought they were]...balls of yarn ..some of which were the original rowan dk yarns..these guys sure have the best colors i have ever seen..
toodleoo...

claim to fame...

2010-04-18T08:39:00.003+08:00

hello ...
i had a wonderful surprise happen to me this week..
the new selvedge magazine came out and one of my liberty blocks appeared on the affiliates page advertising calico and ivy..
to say i was thrilled is a bit of an understatement...
you can read about it alittle more on the calico and ivy blog..
'the quilt' has been such a wondrful journey and so many people have come into my life because of it.... this quilt does have soul...and i thank each and everyone of them from the bottom of my heart...

happy easter..

2010-04-05T09:03:00.002+08:00

happy easter to one and all..
the break does you good surrounded by family and lots of get togethers..
but with lots of [ha ha ] time hanging around the home...one has to start a new project..
this scarf is a sample for work and knit in the most delicious yarn ever ..
and the color..as sort of cardinal purple..
and my rosewood needles..i love my rosewoods..
i should finish off today..that means i have knit 325 yards in 3 days..not bad
i have also been ripplin.. but my grandaughter keeps claiming it..
wherever she is the blankie follows..
i might have to make a SMALLER one especially for her...
hope the hook lasts out..

a colorful diversion....

2010-03-31T08:12:00.003+08:00

for some time now i have had a mental block..

quite a while ago another little cardigan [similar to the one above] was taken home with someone without permission...even the little coathanger that i had crocheted went with it..

needless to say i was a little broken as any knitter knows striping is not the fastest way to knit..

so in tribute to my 'lost' little cardigan i decided to knit another one...[it has got rid of my mental block too]..

so a little finishing off today and little stripey can come with me to work tomorrow and set up residence to inspire all of the wonderful knitters out there..

i feel like i should put a tag on saying...

you can touch me..

you can feel me..

but PLEASE don't steal me!!..

but i won't..

i will send kind thoughts and love ..

p.s.my ripple did suffer a little...but only a tad..

vintagey vibe...

2010-03-29T16:30:00.002+08:00

hmm...

i have been sorting out a FEW of my little pieces of vintage barkcloths..

i might do a bit of sewing this easter holiday...you know ..to keep me away from the choccychoc...

but ..there again ..i might do a bit of both...if i am being totally honest...

or i might have a tim tam slammer....oohh ...yes indeedy..

collections..or obsessions???

2010-03-27T13:44:00.007+08:00

when does a collection become an obsession?

is it after 4 or ..maybe 5.. 6... 7... well i have gone past that in my collection of cameo tins..

my latest aquasitions are a full set that have winged there way across from the uk...

and oh how my little heart skipped when i saw them...

i think that the obsession started when i was knee high to a grasshopper and spent wonderful wekends at my nana's house..

here she had a cameo tin for her tea leaf tea...she would only use this tea from that tin to read the tea leaves for an awful lot of ladies that would come for a reading..

i wish she had taught me the gift..

i have yet to find the TEA LEAF TIN..but i will not stop searching...no sirree..

are we there yet???

2010-03-18T08:51:00.004+08:00

are we there yet ??? nearly i say...

the ripplethon is slowly growing and i have been hooking a tad more than 20 mins a day..

but what is it with my furry friends ??

i no sooner spread out my ripple on the bed and elsa came bounding at 100 km an hour and plonked her self on the bed and claimed it as her own..

then i did a bit of dolly bed stitching and along came kitty and did a 360 circle and claimed the dolly bed... and .... put her head on the little liberty pillow..

wise fur babies indeedy!!!

up and down week...

2010-03-10T11:39:00.005+08:00

me thinks the planets are all over the place ...

so in turn the universe is sending us all mixed messages so confusion abounds..

at least in our house ..so not a good week for me and mine...

photo of my mums yoyo curtain cum quilt of which i have washed and dried with the

great ..cooler ...weather we have at the moment..

as i was hanging out my yoyo lovely i noticed the gum tree and the little bees frantic to get as much pollen out of the flowers as possible...so i snapped a photo..

the rippleathon is progressing due to fi's 20 mins a day...i am actually becoming very addicted to this blanket crochety goodness..

it does really soothe my soul...

eye candy...

2010-03-05T11:47:00.003+08:00

well today i woke to cooler weather.... thank you universe..
then i decided i would give some of my favorite hooky blankies a freshen up..
so off they went into a cool frothy bath and were gently patted to loosen any dirt[ there was quite a bit ]..
then a gentle squeeze....and hung over the line in the gentle breeze...
and voila a beautiful pile of hooky goodness ..all lovely and clean..
i can almost hear the whispers...thank you that was lovely..
it really does my soul good...

2010-03-01T08:25:00.002+08:00

gave son a no 2 head shave cut....

made dad a WIG!!!!....

ripplin'on

2010-02-20T06:42:00.003+08:00

as you can see my 20 mins a day is showing signs of progress..

photo below is before and photo above is last night..

slow i know ..but anyone who has rippled knows it is part of the s.l.o.w movement

meditative it is ..and i really need that right now...

the blanket is also on the large side too about 2.50 metres wide so it will envelope the queen size bed.

and if i am anything to go by i never repeat...so i will only ever crochet one ripple...so it may as well be a BIG one...toodleoo

inspiration

2010-02-16T13:21:00.004+08:00

one of my indulgences to myself is subscribing to the three irish girls stash menagerie..

it is a yarn club that sends out the most inspiring yarns every two months ..

this month a calendar arrived too..

it gladdened my heart and soul..

above is the january picture[ the swirly yummy stuff ]

then february is the pineapple stuffed with a hand dyed yarn called...are you ready...tartrazine!!

talk about inspiration...

i say ...bring it on...

my son brought me a present...

2010-02-14T12:56:00.003+08:00

what a week...

i do not want another like it ...thank you..

faced with family drama's ..a little too personal to discuss and a little too i don't want to talk about it..any more...

then yesterday my wonderful son came around with new beau in tow ..and he brought me a present....TADPOLES...TADPOLES...

son said 'hi mum ..i really felt sorry for these little guys... .[son was helping a concreter take out a disused swimming pool]...and i knew you would know what to do with them!!...'okaay...

after a little journey we took them to a wonderful lake with lots of muddy reeds and let them go into the wide blue yonder...weeeh...off they went swimming their little tadpoley hearts out...

rescue complete..

now what i really wanted to do was sort through my crochet basket...especially after a long day at my wonderful work..

so i might be able to tackle the basket a bit later ...what i am noticing ...a lot of orange..tangerine..persimmon...

hmnnn ...maybe i'm lacking in vitamin C ... off to hit the berroca ..i need to get my bb..bounce back..

birthday gift..

2010-02-04T08:09:00.003+08:00

first things first ..thank you for all your kind wishes ...

and today is my 5???? something birthday..

my dear friend pat gave me a most beautiful ..let us get lost in the pages.. book.

my favorite is the gypsy caravan .look at the crochety goodness happening there..

i want to live in these pages..

please take me away...

i want to sleep on that little bed

i want to cook on that little stove

i want to sit in the chair by the fire and hook

not much to ask for ...is it ..???

a sick day!!

2010-01-28T10:32:00.004+08:00

i am feeling alittle sorry for myself today..

those who know me know that i rarely take a day off work..

but at 3.00am the bathroom beckoned ..on the hour ..every hour...so feeling a little green around the gills...

now for some nice stuff

my parcel arrived from across the pond and look what was in it

the new provencale print in these beautiful bowls

and three more fabrics for my cath kidston stash

i shall look at these and i shall be better ...

going to take it slow on the couch and have a little hooky madness..and of course plenty of fluids ...

humbugs..

2010-01-27T10:01:00.005+08:00

yawn....socks again...

this yarn reminds me of humbugs..everton mints..black bullets..liquorice...

here is another cotton yarn as were my previous ones..

after all it is summer...

the book is one i have just bought for a friend ...very inspirational... also done the 20 mins thing too..

nana i'm hungry?

2010-01-26T13:33:00.004+08:00

nana i'm hungry??

what do you fancy?

we...ell....er..i love your meatballs...and your homemade soup....please

so i did ...did i mention we have temps in the high 30's...again..

well kitty has the right idea...but there again she's not a nana!!!

now let's get serious....

2010-01-25T21:20:00.002+08:00

now i really want to make this 20 mins a day thing really work for me ....so.....

i brought out my ripple blanket ...started a while ago...

now i have worked out ...

20 mins for half a row..

i need to crochet about 150 rows...i like my blankets queen size...

40 mins x150 ....6000 mins

100 hrs ...or...

20 mins a day for 300 days = 10 months !!
i will give it a go ...

i figure that if i do it this way i won't get too fed up of rippling...and i shall be making sweet memories at the same time...

i shall think of all the 20 minute bloggers out there..

hmm i might have to name the said blanket...i will really have to think long and hard ..maybe it will come to me when i am rippling....

socks again...

2010-01-24T10:56:00.004+08:00

i know i know .....

i am always taking pictures of my knitted socks so i thought i would post a photo of a beautiful organic fruit box from the farmers market...no air miles on these babies ...

these socks are completed while joining in the '20 mins a day' suggested by fi from marmalade rose fame...

now onward and upward ...i have already cast on my next pair...i have called these my humbug socks and you shall see why ....soon...

inspiration

2010-01-22T09:23:00.003+08:00

my 20 minutes today....
inspiration from fi has made me find my liberty blocks...
these have been waiting in the wings for quite a while ..
but they are all on one of those quilting butlers and are sort of stuck down ready to be stitched together..
so i will put down my sock knitting and sew today..
also the weather is cooler as the fremantle doctor has done it's work and the breeze has made the temperature a little more tolerable and not so energy sapping..
the fremantle doctor is a sea breeze that cools down everything when the temps soar..
happy 20 mins to all you 20 minutes a day bloggers..

20 minutes crafting a day!!!

2010-01-19T10:03:00.003+08:00

i can do that ...
fi from marmalade rose has made a new years resolution to craft at least 20 mins a day..
so i have joined up and am happily sock knitting knowing that i must craft at least for 20mins...
i promise to do so..
i swear...
i honestly do...

i love farmers markets...

2010-01-10T15:54:00.004+08:00

hooray we have our very own farmers market..

we took the granchidren and they had a ball.

every stall holder had tasting samples and were sooooo children and people friendly..what a turn up for the books!..

now i do remember why i loathe supermarkets...

shopping consisted of fresh organic herbs and lettuces..organic carrots ..butternut squash [in the oven roasting at the moment ]..freshly squeezed raw juices..stone baked rye bread with a crust to die for...plums ,peaches ,apricots and cherries which were freshly picked this morning..

sheep's milk camembert and aged cheddar..

all these things are here right on our doorstep..

and to top off the list we had handmade fudges made with real organic milk and cream!!

we are definately going again next week to support our local food artisans and i understand that only seasonal food is for sale so i love that pressure on me as a cook ..
i would shop like this all the time ...in fact..i may well do!!...

blue lagoon...

2010-01-08T10:03:00.003+08:00

this is for all those snow crazy house bound bloggers out there...
this is the indian ocean ..my blue lagoon...come on in the waters lovely..smell the ozone and taste the salt on your lips...let the gentle waves sooth the soul...
there do u feel better?
you are most welcome any time...

new years resolution? ...

2010-01-06T10:18:00.004+08:00

everybody is making one so i thought i should too..
a new years resolution that is..

so this my year to recycle and reuse..i already do anyway..but i have to take this one a bit more serious..

this is my year to only use eco and organic yarns..there is some beauties out there ..but you do have to search...and searching ,or you could call it the thrill of the hunt ,is what spurs me on ..

above are some yarns that have been dyed using organic and natural materials ..they have a semi solid look to them and the colours are amazing..

the fabric above is a vintage find and i have 5 of these amazing handstitched circles..they are quite large and i have to consult the oracle on this one ..

so you see i have made my new years promise to myself...and it starts today!!!...i promise..

my holiday project..

2010-01-03T10:08:00.003+08:00

i started this cushion the day it was in the 40's and we went to the beach...

and here it is..finished ..

i have thoroughly enjoyed the whole project..

now what to do?

shall i sew or shall i knit or shall i crochet some more?

decisions ...decisions..

don't you agree there is something about the start of a new year that makes the creative juices rise?

ps...

2009-12-28T16:55:00.001+08:00

forgot to tell you to click on the sea photo as you will be able to see my son on the surfboard....

ps..

2009-12-28T16:54:00.001+08:00

playing hooky at the beach..

2009-12-28T16:42:00.002+08:00

well what can you do when the forecast is for 40 degrees??...

you can all go to the beach to let the breeze from the indian ocean cool and calm your spirit..

and it did work too.

of course while father and son [son is on the surfboard in deep contemplation] cooled off in the sea i played hooky..

with a bottle of fizzy water ..factor 30+..and under a huge beach umbrella i crocheted my little heart out...bliss...bliss...bliss..

merry xmas....

2009-12-26T08:59:00.001+08:00

merry xmas to you all...
and remember life is just a bowl of cherries...xxxxx

a lady of many talents...

2009-12-23T08:06:00.003+08:00

my beautiful friend kim sent me these lovely things in the post..

i always jump for joy when a kim parcel arrives ..

above is my favorite liberty fabric called boats but i call it st ives[cornwall]..

kim made a perfect little shirt for my 5 yr old grandson..

also i sent her a teddy bear nightshirt and kim has copied it right doen to the little hole at the back of the shirt ..for teddies tail of course..

and now i am on holiday for a whloe two weeks ..hitting the beach...family.. food...and more food..and generally chillaxing....and thanks again kimxxxx

new old look

2009-12-18T14:35:00.003+08:00

i know i should be out xmas shopping but i loathe the crowds at this time of the year so i thought i would give my little table a bit of a facelift...i think the lampshade started this..

so i had some cath kidston oilcloth and voila..a new old look...

a new old lampshade.

2009-12-15T07:50:00.003+08:00

i have just had a new lampshade made for my standard lamp..

i used one of my favorite cath kidston fabrics [ now obsolete ] called posie .

i absolutely love it to bits..xxxxx

on my needles at the moment

2009-12-15T07:43:00.005+08:00

thought i might have a change of direction...

you all know i am an addicted sock knitter and i work on addi needles size 2mm ..that is small..

now i am at the other end of the scale and using 15mm rosewood needles.

i am of course knitting a throw in colinette point 5 and giotto together..hmm ..it's a little different i can tell you..

i'm not thinkin of xmas..yet!

2009-12-15T07:35:00.004+08:00

i'm not thinkin of xmas ..yet..how can i ? ..when i am stood in the indian ocean in 39 degree heat and the gentle waves lapping and cooling my body as i gaze toward africa....how does it feel like xmas???is that snow on the horizon?? nah it's a great big pelican!!

my beautiful friend...

2009-12-09T11:19:00.003+08:00

my beautiful friend ..danielle.. gave me a gift at work the other day..i was a little taken a back at the time ..i know how much time and effort and not forgetting ..THE LOVE.. that went into this creation.

the enormatiy of it did not hit me until i got home and i did shed one or two tears when i looked at it again..

they were tears of joy that this wonderful person has come into my life and adds so much to it.

i thank u and treasure the gifts u have given to me ..you have a heart as big as tassie..

i am truly priviliged to have u in my life both on the creative and on the friendship side..

thank u danielle...

xmas already???

2009-12-08T17:07:00.004+08:00

is xmas coming already??

where did the year go?

do any of you feel that way?

anyway i thought i would treat myself to a ponsettia ..you know ...just to remind me that xmas is really COMING...

i feel a bit like a vintage mercury glass bauble... a tad fragile!...

inspiration...

2009-12-04T12:19:00.003+08:00

i love my job...

especially when we have had a new delivery..

when i went to work [check out debs new blog ..calicoandivy.blogspot.com ] yesterday the new kaffe fassett collective had just arrived and i snaffled a couple of fabrics...shell melange by phillip jacobs and a couple of the most contempary circles in the most amazing colors..

then as i was doing a bit of searching thru my cath kidston i had to put some colors together to make these dear little yoyo's..

oh ! and before i shoot off the new heather bailey felt rolls are a must have ..

dumped!!!!

2009-11-18T11:19:00.004+08:00

dumped.... sorry to start on such a negative but has the world gone mad?

last night around 5pm my daughter was on her way to my place and spotted a suspicious looking white ute hovering at the side of the new perth to bunbury sliprode...she turned her car around and approached as the callous degenerate was pulling away..

then she saw the box he had dumped at the side of the road ..upon closer inspection was three kittens ..two were already out of the box in the dense undergrowth ...here is the lucky last who was slower than his siblings..

he is now warm and loved .

these little guys are only about 6 weeks old ..no fleas and well cared for..and reeking of perfume..

what kind of a man could do this??

we have been out twice looking for the other two but no luck..

there are no words to express what i would do to someone who could do this !!!!

we have called the local papers and hopefully someone might recognise this little man and know what her partner has done ...oohh i'm so mad ...

friday tootle...

2009-11-03T08:33:00.003+08:00

friday tootle...i can highly recommend to put one in a good mood..

danielle and i met for the day and we had a lovely lunch at my favorite tearooms

then we had plenty of chatter and some more pottering..

and i just had to show you a present from another dear friend leah..thank you.. tiny little crocheted people... i wonder if they want to tootle too!!...

fabrication francaise...

2009-10-27T07:40:00.004+08:00

cornflowers for my dear friend kim ..i loved your story..

yesterday at www.calicoandivy we had a delivery of the long awaited french fabric...

shades of raspberry ,taupe and creams..absolutely divine...

i have always had a penchant for french fabrics..

especially vintage ones ..

this one is by paul dumas and is highly coveted ..just knowing this fabric is among my stash gives me goosebumps..one day...

colors of summer..

2009-10-21T09:02:00.005+08:00

i think it's an english thing...loving cornflowers and sweet peas.. a leftover memory from my nana's garden ...so that is why i grow them ..

little did i know that i would be growing them in a garden in australia..

but i am and here they are and i shall enjoy them ..

a trip to the vets later for a slight ear problem with my lovely elsa ..and ..a sinister lump that has appeared near her neck[ i will think positive ]..

and now there are only 3 chooks left ..we had a natural departure on the really hot day that we had the other day ..but she was failing and i know i made her life a heck of a lot better than the battery egg farm from which i rescued her from .. so i feel a little sad but no remorse..

birthday picnic at the beach

2009-10-18T15:39:00.008+08:00

what great day we had at the beach ...

daughters 32nd birthday ..so we took off to the local beach and sat by the indian ocean under blue skies and a pleasant 28 degrees celsius...

we lunched on home made free range char suei chicken ...organic fruit salad ...and a biodynamic salad with biodynamic sheeps fetta cheese...all topped of with a good cuppa tea ...steaming hot from a flask...no wonder we feel regenerated ..i would highly encourage such weekend behaviour..

lots of laughing and talking ..only downer was my son couldn't go into the sea due to a 8 stitches surfing gash sustained yesterday at th surf beach in scarboro..
if you click on the middle photo you can see a pelican which landed not too far away from the grandchildren...

the scent of summer..

2009-10-16T07:15:00.004+08:00

ahh ..the scent of summer.

honeysuckle and roses...you bet ..can't beat that scent to say summer is here

my climbing cecile brunner rose has never had so many buds on the branches..

me knows it was due to the nibbling of the alpacas who sadly no longer do the tip pruning for me.

so i must enjoy the little beauties while i can ..

off for tootle today with a friend...have a wonderful weekend..

new stuff...

2009-10-14T08:19:00.004+08:00

i love recieving new stuff in the post..

it sends me off on a tangent..

i look at the colors and have a flash of inspiration and i drop whatever i am doing and give it a go

i made these flowers as soon as i looked at these shade cards so i figure what inspires is the color and then i go off and ferret through my stash..a bit like a deranged squirrel looking for pre buried nuts!..and come out with the yarn i want to use..

so i am happy crocheting along at the moment..

and the other day some friends and i met for a leisurely lunch by the river as it was a warm sunny day and one needed to be outdoors getting ones daily dose of vitamin d..so we did and then i remembered...ahh... this is why i came to oz..

liberty quilts..

2009-10-11T08:33:00.005+08:00

well it is all official calicoandivy has moved address...well we crossed the road to the sunny side of the street..

we are now at no 10 glyde street..

the new shop is much larger and has it's own yarn room [which i could happily live in ].

deb and the team worked so hard and the logistics were huge ..but everything is ticketyboo and new and fresh and what a lovely place to work..

yes..really ..it is not hard waking up and going to work i can tell you..

you never know what delights await you when you get there..

then i was taken aback when deb wanted my liberty quilts to hang in the new shop..i was literally blown away and humbled at the same time..

without the encouragement of friends i would never have finished them ..

i thank them all from the bottom of my heart and made some wonderful memories along the way.

i have however made a decision ..i will only work in liberty fabrics as they bring me so much joy

and i must finish the one i have in the wings..as well as knitting ...crocheting..and of course a sock or two or three...

did i mention?....

2009-10-02T07:13:00.003+08:00

did i mention that i love to collect vintage china...well here are few i rescued the other day while opshopping with my daughter.
i love that they have a few bruises here and there ..
if i have to choose a favorite ie would have to be the one in the right hand corner with the most divine pattern of little clovers all around the edge..

on my needles at the moment

2009-09-27T07:15:00.004+08:00

on my needles at the moment i have a another pair of socks..

crochet flowers..

and a mens cardi using rowan bamboo yarn in a silvery mushroom color..

i have wanted to use this yarn for so long and thanks to erica knight i have the perfect pattern and i am soo in love with this yarn..

also i washed my finished liberty quilt..

when i look at this quilt i feel such an overwhelming sense of pride and satisfaction..

i connect with times and places where i purchased the fabric and the the friends i have met along the way ..

thank you danielle for finishing the binding for me ..you are a marvel..i will treasure you always ..

and thank you pat who made me driven to finish it even when i wavered ..

well i'm off to wash my second one now as it is a lovely drying day..

blue haze..

2009-09-25T07:09:00.004+08:00

what a sight to greet you when you come up the drive ...

a beautful blue haze of wisteria ..and the fragrance is delicious...wafting as you walk by.

i always find it unusual as the flowers appear before the leaves.

i am training this little beauty onto an arch made from sticking a starpicket on either side of the doorway and then pushing a large reticulation tube[the black thing] over the top making a big beautiful arc ..which one day ..i figure about another two years..will be an arch of wisteria..

can i wait that long ? ...

yeah sure..

for the man in your life...

2009-09-24T06:30:00.004+08:00

a new book arrived 'men's knits' by erika knight fame...

for those of you ou there who are knitters, you have to agree that there is not much around for the guys..until now ..there is at least 4 i want to knit right now ..today..

then there was aother parcel filled with all the lovelies in the photo above ...some of the new spud and chloe fine in the most amazing colors with equally amazing names such as tutu ,sassafrass ,anemone ,cricket ,calypso ,dachsund ,clementine and gloworm..

and then some exqusite cashmere sock from artyarns in a pinky beige green..oohh ..i really need to knit..

also in the parcel ,some kaffe fassett sock yarns in subdued mud at the bottom of the pond colors...

with working in calicoandivy check out our website at http://www.calicoandivy.com/ kaffe HAS to be the best colorist around

his colors especially his shot cottons go with everything ..there is a color to match any fabric..he certainly lights up anything you happen to put with it...

he can sure make a quilt POP...

anyway off to workie now to see me maties and share in a few wows when we all have a cuddle of the new stuff..

just a snippet..

2009-09-23T08:14:00.002+08:00

hi just a snippet today..
a cleopatra sock..hmm ...somehow i can't see HER wearing these... did they have birkies in HER day???...

i'm the king of the castle..

2009-09-22T08:33:00.003+08:00

i'm the king of the castle....

no you're not ..i am...

i don't think so ..i am..

spring has sprung and some haircuts are needed..

then yesterday we had a low 15 degree day..

i think i will let them keep their fur coats on another week or so?
we have a long weekend coming up at the end of this week and guess what i'll be doing??

i will be helping deb and the team to move our lovely shop across the road to bigger premises..

a lot more room and you know what that means..more wool , more fabric...more of the nice things in life... can't wait..

what a bouquet!!

2009-09-20T08:15:00.003+08:00

what a bouquet!!! what a wonderful gift from my dear leah ..thank you from the bottom of my heart..you know exactly which buttons to press to brighten my day thank you thank you...

as you get more mature [older] some people that enter your life can make a difference ..after arriving from the uk 13 yrs ago now i left my lifelong friends and a couple of soulmates behind..yes we all promised to keep in touch and i have with a chosen few ..but...it is only recently i have made connections to some wonderful people who are fast becoming soulmates on this side of the world too..i hold them dear and they know who they are..

and some crafty talk..a new yarn arrived from MISS BABS..don't u love the name..and is called CLEOPATRA.. of course some new socks are about to be born and they are going to be for me !!
how selfish can one be ! i don't care ..i am having these ...

look forward to watching them grow...

i have a meadow...

2009-09-18T08:02:00.003+08:00

i have a meadow in my back yard [7.50 acres] for the first time since coming here..

the lack of meadow was due to my roaming alpacas and my pet sheep..

but alas they are no longer here..

due to the changing land zoning policies looming we talked and after a LOT of deliberation we rehomed them to a neighbour not too far away..

we figured it was kinder to rehome them sooner rather than later as they had to stay together in their little family group..

i drive past them going to work and they are happy and importantly...together ..forever.

i have never ,ever rehomed an animal of mine ..

so i have a tinge of sadness more often than not ..

but i know we did the right thing..even if it hurts like crazy..

but the meadow now is teaming with all kinds of insects and parrots..and all the while these little wildflowers were underground sleeping until the time was right to resurface..

and what a joy to behold ...

I'M BACK...i think

2009-09-17T10:10:00.004+08:00

i'm back only just ...i am teetering on the edge...so please be patient

so much has happened ..nothing too major or life threatening ..a little drama along life's highway that's all!!

firstly the little cottage that we were about to build has come crashing down...due to the council's unsympathetic unwavering insight into living on a rural block..we were told that we had to put in a 99000 litre water tank if we were to proceed ..and wait for it ...the tank would have measured 7.5 metre across x2.5 metres wide ..which would have been the same size as the little cottage ...so POUFF..that went out of the window..

then because of all the council stuff i was researching and found out that where we live is earmarked for around 700 dwellings in 2012...so POUFF...staying here went out of the window.

also my daughter has recently had to undergo major surgery and i was on nanny duty 24/7..

pretty exhausting i can tell you..

i also have been working three days a week now and i don't know what or how i would cope if i didn't have my job...my good friends ...my wonderful boss...and my little slice of of life that is mine and mine alone...

i have also had the good fortune to have been on a trip to albany...i loved it ..i felt i had come home ..we had of course dear emily who was our chauffer and tourguide and it was ajoy to have her with us ..THANKS EM...and my dear friend danielle and leah ..i love you both...

as you can see i have a new book called VELVET PEARS.. BY SUSAN SOUTHAM...i want to live in this book ...i love it..

a littlebit of hooky stuff going on ..and socks of course...there will always be socks on the go..

i feel the juices rising ...albeit alittle slower than the norm but nonetheless rising..

i want to be on fire again ..so hopefully not to far away ...maybe over the next horizon?

flowers for the teacher...

2009-07-02T08:47:00.005+08:00

well my sock class came to an end and i was rewarded with several girls completing a sock ...

i was also lucky enough to have made 12 beautiful friends ..

and flowers and laughter and a wonderful little book that dear leah brought in and ...did you know... a sock has around 17000 stithes in it ..so that is 34000 stitches...for a pair...no wonder you only knit for people you love and adore!!

on a sad note one of our chooks died yesterday..but she was part of the family menagerie..

i have to remember these words from sogyal rinpoche author of the tibetan book of living and dying.."things die, nothing lasts...all is impermanent, we must learn to let go".

but it is still hard , as i carried her little body ,i realised that as i cried i was again letting go for all my previous losses my family.. my pets... my homes...

i have to think how lucky i was to have this little creature in my life and it was a gift...

so again i cried for my little pud...

and as i am writing this the tears are flowing and as my nana used to say"it's like having a cup of tea with the lord"...and although i am not deeply religious i know there has to be more...'

new mags and wip...

2009-06-28T09:47:00.004+08:00

well what a BUSY week ..

sunday..smoothie workshop

monday..work

tuesday ..teaching

wednesday..taking an 80 yr old for morning coffee and a knitterly chat

thursday..shop

friday...quilting get together and dropping off my quilt tops to the lovely barbara..

saturday..work

sunday..a recharge day... i think....

so above is the photo of socks in progress and alex's koigu scarf all 4 metres of it[ alex if you are reading this LOOK AWAY NOW] and all this while looking after a 5 and 7 yr old for three whole days and NIGHTS...their mum is on 6 weeks practical in hospital and believe me they make NO exception if you are a single mum....and all without pay too... well don't get me started on that one..sigh ..another sigh...i AM going to have a quite day today ..i am ...i really am.

i've arrived and a chocolate smile.....

2009-06-24T16:07:00.002+08:00

above is my grandson [sorry for the blurry photo] who has just drank a cacoa banana thick shake made by me after attending a smoothie workshop run by roar vanilla ...i cannot begin to tell you of the health benefits from the smoothies i learnt to make...pineapple macadamia lassi..

the green planet...creamy lemon and coconut smoothie and almond milk.

i have made the almond milk today and i am going to use it instead of the soya milk that i am used too as the health benefits far outweigh anything i have tried before..

and did you know you should always soak nuts at least 8 hrs in filtered water before you eat them ..this makes them totally digestible..

and look who arrived to live with the jonses in oz....a beautiful embroidered rabbit from fiona at marmaladerose ....
thank you fi i will treasure my wittle wabbit and weally weally wuv her ...

we are looking forward to meeting you ...

2009-06-17T06:42:00.002+08:00

this is my family of handyed ,handspun ,and handknitted peter rabbit family..

they were all made by the clever ladies from kenya under the kenanaknitters.com..

they are all eagerly awaiting a little rabbit from the uk to join them..

fiona of marmaladerose blog fame ,has kindly made a bunny for my collection...and he or she is on their way ...winging across the oceans all the way from the yorkshire dales [where we lived in a previous life ]to western australia...what an adventure...

well fi i will let you know when we meet little bunny and i'm sure he or she will be warmly welcomed ...

they got it!...

2009-06-16T19:03:00.002+08:00

by george they got...they really did...i am so proud of them..

i am pumped and i should be exhausted

the day was wonderful as all the beautiful girls that attended my first teaching lesson[after a teachers drought] were so lovely and we all had a great time...

the course runs for three weeks and i have warned them that the last week we will be having a foot photo shoot ...

i even had dear debbie [owner of calicoandivy ] casting on and off she went ...

we all used the koigu in all different colors so i can't wait to see the finished article...

yes ..today was a good day...a very rewarding day...i have no idea how i will get to sleep tonight...

but i know what is happening right now in 12 different homes...hmm...sshhh...i think i can hear the sweet tinkling sound of addi turbo's ...LYNNIE

something wonderful happened to me..

2009-06-14T12:51:00.002+08:00

something wonderful happened to me yesterday while i was at work at calico and ivy..
it was a normal happy saturday and really busy as usual ..all of the regulars were popping in and some newbies too..there was a class on and one of my favorite people was attending the applique class run by my buddy anthea carboni...but there was a special secret lurking...
after the class i was with a newbie knitter and was saying goodbye to the girls after their class was finished and my dear ,dear ,dear danielle said there was something behind the counter for me ...i served my customer and looked ....I WAS BREATHLESS AND AMAZED...danielle had given me this quilt....... .it was made for me ...all my favorite fabrics ...ck .yuwa etc...i am in love ..
danielle ..you are something else ...you have the most amazing heart and you are so full of generosity and enthusiasm and you are so easy to be around .. our friendship will be cherished for ever ..and if this makes you shed a tear well so be it cos' i have done just that..
it just goes to show that when wonderful people enter your life you must cherish them ...
i have a handful [and they know who they are] and i will always find time for these special people
because they are truly cherished ...
thank you danielle [itchintogetstitchin]you have made one little grey haired english lady feel very special indeedy..luv to you ..

head like a toy shop...

2009-06-11T15:35:00.002+08:00

i have a head like a toy shop at the moment...
i have soo much that i want to make and not enough hours to do it..
i think i may have pre sock class nerves..not in a bad way at all... but i really really want my pupils to get it!...
i know everything will be alright as soon as i start but i have been away from teaching for so long that i have a touch of stage fright..
i shall just breathe and enjoy the beautiful ladies that will enter my life and relish the time i spend with them and if i have only one sockaholic at the end of the course ..i will be happy..
two would be better still...