WM and I arrived home around 6pm on Monday – I can’t believe it’s Thursday already. Where did this week go? Oh yes, washing (laundry for my American friends), a full-body massage (on Tuesday), knitting, reading blog posts and making art!
The good news, great news in fact, is that we now have our internet connected to another provider and it is fast enough for me to download your blog posts, even if they are photo-heavy! Even better news for me is that I can now watch the videos from my art course: which, of course, has inspired me to do some art work of my own! Nothing I want to share yet (sorry) but fun none-the-less.
The days have been warm and sunny so I have taken to spending a couple of hours in front of the computer catching up with blogs while the sun shines into my sewing room. Then I take my pencils and art journal outside; I have my lunch out there too.
When the shadows start taking over the backyard I move inside again, this time into the lounge (living) room on the western side of the house where I sit with my Kindle and read for a while before I turn on the television and knit. Ah, retired life: there’s nothing like it!
And now for the warning. I have checked this and this is not a hoax. It is so serious that the Australian government has actually set up a site which will check people’s computers as they log on! To keep it brief, cybercriminals have hacked into millions of computers around the world and infected them so that as of 9 July 2012 they will no longer be able to connect to the internet. These criminals have been found and arrested but there are millions of computer users at risk. You can read more about it at Hoax Slayer (the site I use when I want to check if something is a hoax or not).
Now, I’m sure you’ll want to check if your computer is affected (or infected). Go to this page and it will give you the site for your area; for my fellow Aussies the site is http://dns-ok.gov.au/. It took me less than five seconds to find out my computer doesn’t seem to have been affected.
Please, friends, I don’t do chain emails and I don’t pass on hoax emails. This one is genuine -- check your computer before it’s too late.
Showing posts with label not quilting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label not quilting. Show all posts
Thursday, 17 May 2012
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
ANZAC Day -- lest we forget
On 25th April 1915, Australian and New Zealand troops were landed in the pre-dawn dark on the beach at Gallipoli in Turkey. In the following days and weeks, hundreds of men were killed and injured by the Turkish troops waiting on the cliffs above the beach.
In military terms, the campaign was a disaster but it was the first time that the newly-formed Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) fought a major battle in WWI.
Australians commemorate this anniversary as a day of national remembrance. It is a public holiday across our country. Dawn services and marches are held across the nation. We remember all those who have served in war, especially those who gave their lives, from WWI to the present day.
Lest we forget!
Monday, 16 January 2012
other crafts
A long time ago, when I was a "winter" knitter, I decided I had to find a different craft for summer because it was too hot to knit!
I had tried embroidery which I showed you in this post. I enjoyed it and thought I might do some more of it.
We were going away for a few days because our cork floor tiles were being recoated and the smell of polyurethane is unbearable. We had some long-forgotten reason to visit a local store and, though I looked all over their small craft department, I couldn't find an embroidery kit. However, I did find a small cross stitch kit. Ideal! Everything I needed (except scissors and a hoop) was in the package. It was small so I could work on it in the car and it was inexpensive so if I didn't like it, it was no big deal!
I finished that first cross stitch, framed it with the embroidery hoop I had used to stitch it and gave it to my mum for Mothers' Day. It's still on display in her china cabinet.
But I was hooked! I started making people cross-stitch bookmarks. I bought "waste canvas" and began embroidering on tee-shirts and socks. I bought a couple of kits and worked those. I think people even began to expect that they would receive small cross-stitch embroidery from me for presents.
But then came Big Project #1. DD and I still smile at how I finished it and was washing it in the bath while she stood lookout for Daddy coming home from work. It was his Christmas present and I needed to block it! He loved it.
Then my sister got engaged and I began a cross stitch of blue and white crockery on a dresser as a wedding gift. I have no photo of that one to show you but I know it still hangs in my sister's dining room (even though that marriage is long over).
DD was given a cross-stitch for Christmas one year but she outgrew it and we had to take it from her room and hang it in the hall. She says she still loves it (or maybe she has renewed her love for it) so maybe, one day, she'll hang it at her place.
Mum's 60th birthday came next and what better thing to give a "new Australian " (she had become a citizen just six years before after living here for thirty one years) - Australian wild flowers!
I took this photo over the mantlepiece, way above my head so please forgive the funny angle. The photo below shows some detail (if anyone is interested it is 14 count Aida cloth); the big red flower is called a waratah.
It is the floral emblem of my state and grows only in sandy soil. We have clay soil so, unfortunately, have not been successful in growing one (WM dislikes pots). You can read more about waratahs here.
Then mum and dad gave me a pattern for a piano done in cross stitch (yes I do play - badly). I never finished it, I think all that cream (on the left) was just too much for me! It has become one of my many UFOs about the place!
What about you, did you once have an obsession with another craft?
We were going away for a few days because our cork floor tiles were being recoated and the smell of polyurethane is unbearable. We had some long-forgotten reason to visit a local store and, though I looked all over their small craft department, I couldn't find an embroidery kit. However, I did find a small cross stitch kit. Ideal! Everything I needed (except scissors and a hoop) was in the package. It was small so I could work on it in the car and it was inexpensive so if I didn't like it, it was no big deal!
I finished that first cross stitch, framed it with the embroidery hoop I had used to stitch it and gave it to my mum for Mothers' Day. It's still on display in her china cabinet.
But I was hooked! I started making people cross-stitch bookmarks. I bought "waste canvas" and began embroidering on tee-shirts and socks. I bought a couple of kits and worked those. I think people even began to expect that they would receive small cross-stitch embroidery from me for presents.
But then came Big Project #1. DD and I still smile at how I finished it and was washing it in the bath while she stood lookout for Daddy coming home from work. It was his Christmas present and I needed to block it! He loved it.
Then my sister got engaged and I began a cross stitch of blue and white crockery on a dresser as a wedding gift. I have no photo of that one to show you but I know it still hangs in my sister's dining room (even though that marriage is long over).DD was given a cross-stitch for Christmas one year but she outgrew it and we had to take it from her room and hang it in the hall. She says she still loves it (or maybe she has renewed her love for it) so maybe, one day, she'll hang it at her place.
Mum's 60th birthday came next and what better thing to give a "new Australian " (she had become a citizen just six years before after living here for thirty one years) - Australian wild flowers!
I took this photo over the mantlepiece, way above my head so please forgive the funny angle. The photo below shows some detail (if anyone is interested it is 14 count Aida cloth); the big red flower is called a waratah.
It is the floral emblem of my state and grows only in sandy soil. We have clay soil so, unfortunately, have not been successful in growing one (WM dislikes pots). You can read more about waratahs here.Then mum and dad gave me a pattern for a piano done in cross stitch (yes I do play - badly). I never finished it, I think all that cream (on the left) was just too much for me! It has become one of my many UFOs about the place!
What about you, did you once have an obsession with another craft?Tuesday, 10 January 2012
I do so knit!
Cast on 1st January.
First sock finished second of January (I had a stomach bug so was at home in front of the television alone for most of the day).
What's on your needles?
First sock finished second of January (I had a stomach bug so was at home in front of the television alone for most of the day).
Mum admired the sock, tried it on and it fitted! So the socks will be hers.
Second sock cast on 3rd January, heel turned last night. The colours in the photo below are more accurate.
Second sock cast on 3rd January, heel turned last night. The colours in the photo below are more accurate.
What's on your needles?Tuesday, 29 November 2011
still not home
But at least I have access to the internet!
It's a long tale that can summed up in one phrase: "too much rain".
Yes, you guessed it; last weekend, Moree, the town where my mum had her cataract operation, had the second highest flood on record!
We were trapped until yesterday. Mum needed to be home becasue she had another appointment (which was made nine months ago) in the town of Tamworth today and needed to come home first to collect ehr x-rays,etc.
Even when I made the decision to leave by the "long way home", I had no idea that the planned route (due to flooding in other areas) was 631 kilometres (395 miles). That is really the loooooooong way home - Moree to Bingara, mum's home town, is just 117 kilometres (73 miles) by her preferred route.
This map shows the route I thought I would be taking; the road between Narrabri (B) and Bingara (G) is the one I wanted to take!
View Larger Map
Anyway, I was about 40 kilometres (25 miles) out the Narrabri-Coonabarabran Road when something told me to stop and check mum's phone. Sure enough, there was a voice message from mum's friend at the tourism office in Bingara, telling us that the road from Narrabri to Bingara had just been reopened. So, of course, I turned around and headed back into Narrabri, through town, and onto the Bingara Road! Yay!
What could have been an nine hour trip turned into a four hour trip (counting lunch stops, asking for information about road conditions, buying fuel and heading 40km in the wrong direction before being turned around! Thank you Lord!
I have managed to change my own ticket and will return to Sydney tomorrow - three days after I planned!
I will have photos of the flooding (if they worked) for you on Thursday!
And, mum's operation was very successful. Hopefully the other eye will be done next year.
It's a long tale that can summed up in one phrase: "too much rain".
Yes, you guessed it; last weekend, Moree, the town where my mum had her cataract operation, had the second highest flood on record!
We were trapped until yesterday. Mum needed to be home becasue she had another appointment (which was made nine months ago) in the town of Tamworth today and needed to come home first to collect ehr x-rays,etc.
Even when I made the decision to leave by the "long way home", I had no idea that the planned route (due to flooding in other areas) was 631 kilometres (395 miles). That is really the loooooooong way home - Moree to Bingara, mum's home town, is just 117 kilometres (73 miles) by her preferred route.
This map shows the route I thought I would be taking; the road between Narrabri (B) and Bingara (G) is the one I wanted to take!
View Larger Map
Anyway, I was about 40 kilometres (25 miles) out the Narrabri-Coonabarabran Road when something told me to stop and check mum's phone. Sure enough, there was a voice message from mum's friend at the tourism office in Bingara, telling us that the road from Narrabri to Bingara had just been reopened. So, of course, I turned around and headed back into Narrabri, through town, and onto the Bingara Road! Yay!
What could have been an nine hour trip turned into a four hour trip (counting lunch stops, asking for information about road conditions, buying fuel and heading 40km in the wrong direction before being turned around! Thank you Lord!
I have managed to change my own ticket and will return to Sydney tomorrow - three days after I planned!
I will have photos of the flooding (if they worked) for you on Thursday!
And, mum's operation was very successful. Hopefully the other eye will be done next year.
Sunday, 20 November 2011
I like chocolate cake batter
On Saturday 12th November, Baseball Nephew had a training session at the Olympic Baseball Park in western Sydney. My sister and nephew stayed with us on Friday night.
...and the beaters.
Younger Grandson watched on but only smiled when he was tickled!
In honour of their visit (we only see them two or three times a year), DD made a chocolate cake.
Older Grandson learnt the delights of licking the spatula
...and the beaters.
Younger Grandson watched on but only smiled when he was tickled!
Friday, 18 November 2011
Thursday, 17 November 2011
exciting news
It may surprise you to know that baseball is not one of the most popular sports in Australia.
It is not broadcast at all on free-to-air television.
It is certainly not the big deal that it is in USA.
However, my uncle (dad's brother) played baseball for many years. Dad's first cousin also played baseball, as did his sons, and at least one of his son's sons.
My sister's son, my only nephew, started playing tee-ball when he was much younger.
From tee-ball he graduated to baseball.
So, in summer he'd play cricket (one of our most popular national sports) and in winter - yes, that's right, winter - he'd play baseball.
It is not broadcast at all on free-to-air television.
It is certainly not the big deal that it is in USA.
However, my uncle (dad's brother) played baseball for many years. Dad's first cousin also played baseball, as did his sons, and at least one of his son's sons.
My sister's son, my only nephew, started playing tee-ball when he was much younger.
From tee-ball he graduated to baseball.
So, in summer he'd play cricket (one of our most popular national sports) and in winter - yes, that's right, winter - he'd play baseball.
This is a photo of him after the Grand Final of the B-grade earlier this year. He also played in the A-grade grand final.
 |
| photo copied and cropped from Cougars Baseball Club Facebook page |
This summer he will not be playing cricket.
Instead, he has been named in the 2012 Under-18's NSW Country Baseball Team as a pitcher. So he will spend the early part of the summer travelling around the state for training and then compete in the national championships in Geelong, Victoria, in January.
This is very exciting news in our family. He has made a state representative team and may, if he plays really well, make it to the national team.
That is great news in itself.
But my nephew is still six weeks short of his sixteenth birthday!
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
yarny gifts
Back in September, I was supposed to tutor a workshop on knitting socks from the toe up. It didn't happen because I was sick. A very dear non-blogging friend, D., was going to assist me with the workshop. She always has socks on the needles and normally knits her socks cuff down but she is willing to give other methods a try.
We met a couple of weeks before the date of the workshop to talk and to correct any mistakes in my sample pattern (which D. had test knitted). That day, D. realised that I did not have any hand knitted socks of my own.
A few days later these arrived in the post.
They are Nanner Socks from "wendyknits" and the yarn is Julie Spins Superwash Merino (colour: Pickle). Unfortunately the socks were too small; I couldn't easily get them on over my heel. But I was very grateful to be the owner of such gorgeous, beautifully knitted socks. 
About a week later, another parcel arrived from D. Inside were these socks in my favourite colour. They are Simple Socks by Cat Bordhi knitted cuff down in Hedgehog Sock yarn (colour: Hush). Before the weather got too warm for socks, I wore them on several occasions.
I am very blessed to have such a wonderful and generous friend. Thank you, D.
On top of that, Sally, who blogs at PomPom, celebrated her 2000th post with a give away. I didn't write the 2000th comment but apparently I am the person who has commented the most so I also won a prize. Thank you, Sally.
Some yarn-y goodness arrived at my place a couple of days ago -- sock yarn made in Germany by Schoppel Wolle. Sally wrote that she has never seen this yarn in Australia, so I can only assume she bought it on a recent trip to England.
Looking at the packaging, I think the colour way is called Sputnik Welle (which translates, according to Bing, as "Sputnik Wave"). 
It is 100g of very soft hand-dyed yarn -- two strands dyed together to get identical socks. The packaging even comes with instructions to unwind the two strands without getting into a tangle! 
How cool is that?
We met a couple of weeks before the date of the workshop to talk and to correct any mistakes in my sample pattern (which D. had test knitted). That day, D. realised that I did not have any hand knitted socks of my own.
A few days later these arrived in the post.
They are Nanner Socks from "wendyknits" and the yarn is Julie Spins Superwash Merino (colour: Pickle). Unfortunately the socks were too small; I couldn't easily get them on over my heel. But I was very grateful to be the owner of such gorgeous, beautifully knitted socks. About a week later, another parcel arrived from D. Inside were these socks in my favourite colour. They are Simple Socks by Cat Bordhi knitted cuff down in Hedgehog Sock yarn (colour: Hush). Before the weather got too warm for socks, I wore them on several occasions.
I am very blessed to have such a wonderful and generous friend. Thank you, D.
On top of that, Sally, who blogs at PomPom, celebrated her 2000th post with a give away. I didn't write the 2000th comment but apparently I am the person who has commented the most so I also won a prize. Thank you, Sally.
Some yarn-y goodness arrived at my place a couple of days ago -- sock yarn made in Germany by Schoppel Wolle. Sally wrote that she has never seen this yarn in Australia, so I can only assume she bought it on a recent trip to England.
Looking at the packaging, I think the colour way is called Sputnik Welle (which translates, according to Bing, as "Sputnik Wave"). It is 100g of very soft hand-dyed yarn -- two strands dyed together to get identical socks. The packaging even comes with instructions to unwind the two strands without getting into a tangle! How cool is that?Tuesday, 8 November 2011
knitting progress
I don't seemed to have achieved much on the sewing/quilting front lately but I have done some knitting.
Last Friday my next-door neighbour had their second child and second son, William, by Caesarean. I was hoping she would have a girl (there are so many pretty things I want to knit) but it was not to be.
Last night I cast on Tate by Melissa Leapman from "Quick Knit Keep Sakes Book 2". I'm using lemon coloured Cleckheaton Fiddle De Dee cotton (discontinued) on 5.00mm (US 8) Knitpicks Harmony needles (borrowed from DD). I haven't given you the Ravelry link because there is no photo there - it seems I am the first knitter on Ravelry to cast on for this pattern! The photo below is copied straight from the book and has been photographed sideways - the cast on edge is to the right of the photo.
It is knitted on 151 stitches and has an eight row border of moss (seed) stitch then an "intermediate" lace pattern involving "slip two stitches knitwise, K1, P2SSO". I have done only ten rows so far - I don't know if it was the humidity or my tiredness but I just couldn't seem to knit quickly last night. I have taken no photos of my knitting because who wants to see rows of moss stitch?
In other knitting news, I have finished the body and sleeves of the striped baby jumper.
The pattern is Mexicali Baby Ole (Ravelry link) by Mary C. Gildersleeve. It is knitted from the right cuff to the left cuff.
The pattern says to block and sew up seams before adding collar - I'm wondering whether to add the collar first: what do you think?
Last Friday my next-door neighbour had their second child and second son, William, by Caesarean. I was hoping she would have a girl (there are so many pretty things I want to knit) but it was not to be.
Last night I cast on Tate by Melissa Leapman from "Quick Knit Keep Sakes Book 2". I'm using lemon coloured Cleckheaton Fiddle De Dee cotton (discontinued) on 5.00mm (US 8) Knitpicks Harmony needles (borrowed from DD). I haven't given you the Ravelry link because there is no photo there - it seems I am the first knitter on Ravelry to cast on for this pattern! The photo below is copied straight from the book and has been photographed sideways - the cast on edge is to the right of the photo.
It is knitted on 151 stitches and has an eight row border of moss (seed) stitch then an "intermediate" lace pattern involving "slip two stitches knitwise, K1, P2SSO". I have done only ten rows so far - I don't know if it was the humidity or my tiredness but I just couldn't seem to knit quickly last night. I have taken no photos of my knitting because who wants to see rows of moss stitch?In other knitting news, I have finished the body and sleeves of the striped baby jumper.
The pattern is Mexicali Baby Ole (Ravelry link) by Mary C. Gildersleeve. It is knitted from the right cuff to the left cuff.The pattern says to block and sew up seams before adding collar - I'm wondering whether to add the collar first: what do you think?Friday, 4 November 2011
three steps forward, one step back, four steps forward
On Tuesday night I prepared to sit in front of the television for a couple of hours and knit.
The weather was warm so the two blankets I have on the needles did not appeal.
I have three pairs of socks on the needles but one is being held up by another (I need to buy more 2.25mm dpns). The one doing the "holding up" needed me to concentrate -- which is hard to do while watching television. The third pair is "on hold" while I consider my alternatives.
There was nothing for it but to cast on something new.
But not just a new project. Something never before attempted (by me).
I have a large quantity of sock yarn so I thought something for a baby/infant might be a good idea. Then I remember the Mexicali Baby Ole pattern (Ravelry link) from "Babies and Toddlers". I have admired the pattern since I bought the book in 2009.
I thought it would be a practical marriage of sock yarn and baby sweater.
The first yarn I tried was supposed to be "fake isle". Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of those yarns that has very short colour bursts - maybe only ten stitches or so. It may work in the round on 64 stitches but knitted back and forth it was. just. awful!
I ripped it out (I was watching TV remember?) without a second thought.
During the commercial break, I changed to a self striping yarn, working on 3.50mm (US 4) needles.
I knitted a sleeve and cast on for the body (it is knitted from cuff to cuff).
In the morning, the first thing I thought of was "rip out the knitting". And so, three hours of knitting looked like this in just a few minutes!
My brain must have been thinking about my knitting while I slept. 3.50mm needles with sock yarn and knitter with a loose tension -- what was I thinking? I needed a needle between 2mm (US 0) and 3mm (US 2+) for a satisfactory result.
On Wednesday morning, immediately after ripping out my knitting, I found a 2.75mm (US 2) circular needle and cast on again. After four hours of knitting (interrupted by the arrival of DD and two grandsons), I had this: one sleeve and the beginning of the body.
And for those who like the details, it looks like this:
A lovely bright jumper for a little one!
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
eek! a steek!
Last Saturday, the Blue Mountains group of the Knitters' Guild of NSW held a steeking workshop. DD and I arrived very late but I caught the end of the workshop. Our guest tutor, Mary-Helen, was very gracious and showed me how to steek the tube I had prepared in advance.
Step 1
Knit your garment (or, in this case, a small tube 10cm - 4" - high)
Step 2
Using a hook a couple of sizes smaller than the needles used to knit the item and a contrasting yarn, crochet a column of stitches three stitches away from where the steek will be -- on both sides of the steek.
Step 3
Take a deep breath and remember to keep breathing! Cut the column of stitches along your steeking line.
It's all very well to be "gung-ho" about cutting a sample tube. I'm sure it would be quite a different matter to cut into a garment on which one had worked for many hours! Step 1
Knit your garment (or, in this case, a small tube 10cm - 4" - high)
Step 2
Using a hook a couple of sizes smaller than the needles used to knit the item and a contrasting yarn, crochet a column of stitches three stitches away from where the steek will be -- on both sides of the steek.
Step 3
Take a deep breath and remember to keep breathing! Cut the column of stitches along your steeking line.
But at least I know how to do it and that can only be a good thing!
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
first anniversary
Twelve months ago today, DD and SIL left this:
They moved into the house they had just bought, with an eight month old son and too much stuff.
Today they have two sons - aged twenty months and four months (tomorrow) and even more stuff.
Due to a lot of hard work from WM (and regular mowing by SIL), the front of the block no longer looks like this!
Happy anniversary, kids!
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
high tea
On 30th September, WM (who had a rostered day off) and I took my mother to the nearby town of Windsor for a belated birthday surprise.
We took her to Mishy's for "lunch". Every table had a different setting - DD would have loved the table in the middle of the room; it had butterflies on the crockery.
This was our table. We had floral cups and saucers with striped plates. The tea pot had leaf tea inside (hence the strainer behind my cup of tea); the big white pot on my left was hot water. You can't see very well, but the water (from the pink bottle) and the freshly squeezed apple juice in the background was served in cut glass goblets. WM had the plunger of freshly brewed coffee which was replaced during the meal. And look at those tiny hand-made meringues on the plates!
I had pre-ordered the "elegant high tea" for three: mini pie, mini quiche, quarter sandwiches with the crusts cut off (egg, smoked salmon, ham and, of course, cucumber), scones with jam and cream, tiny cup cakes (one each of banana, carrot and chocolate) and tiny cream filled profiteroles.
Sadly, the cafe is in the back of an arcade with little passing foot traffic. Business is slow. We were there at 1pm and only one other person came in for a sandwich and a coup of coffee.
We took her to Mishy's for "lunch". Every table had a different setting - DD would have loved the table in the middle of the room; it had butterflies on the crockery.
This was our table. We had floral cups and saucers with striped plates. The tea pot had leaf tea inside (hence the strainer behind my cup of tea); the big white pot on my left was hot water. You can't see very well, but the water (from the pink bottle) and the freshly squeezed apple juice in the background was served in cut glass goblets. WM had the plunger of freshly brewed coffee which was replaced during the meal. And look at those tiny hand-made meringues on the plates!I had pre-ordered the "elegant high tea" for three: mini pie, mini quiche, quarter sandwiches with the crusts cut off (egg, smoked salmon, ham and, of course, cucumber), scones with jam and cream, tiny cup cakes (one each of banana, carrot and chocolate) and tiny cream filled profiteroles.
Sadly, the cafe is in the back of an arcade with little passing foot traffic. Business is slow. We were there at 1pm and only one other person came in for a sandwich and a coup of coffee.
I don't know if this is the reason the business is on the market but I know I will be telling everyone to go there before it closes at the end of November. WM is going to take his mother and will mind the Grandboys while I take DD.
Saturday, 10 September 2011
a letter to my quilting friends
Dear Quilting Friends
I haven't given up quilting but I do have two full day knitting workshops to tutor in the next three weeks (17th September and 1st October) so please bear with me if this blog seems heavy on the knitting content at the moment.
Quilting posts will resume soon!
Lynne
I haven't given up quilting but I do have two full day knitting workshops to tutor in the next three weeks (17th September and 1st October) so please bear with me if this blog seems heavy on the knitting content at the moment.
Quilting posts will resume soon!
Lynne
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)