Oh angelina

Happy Wednesday at the Yarn Along!!

{a bit of strangness here  actually, a day i’ll never forget..but we won’t go into that}

More importantly , the knitting ! I am casting on my beloved MadelineTosh Vintage Thunderstorm for Veera’s newest cardigan , and I love love love it.

I am reading ! Actually reading a book reading ! It is called The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. It is far from a happy book, and I do hope it takes some type of magical ephiponal turn for the better soon.

Wishing you all a blessed Easter break. xx

I cleaned out my closet today ~!
{and found the most wonderful of things…}

a bit of a sewing project i found in my grandmother’s wardrobe. so i spent the afternoon with her. i lined up the squares, and then asked what do i do?  Magically, her note appeares.

the seven inch square.

everything is cut out and ready. instructions provided, in that beautiful handwriting that i miss so. there was {lots} of sniffling and soggyness as i was sewing, and my thumb is all mangled reminding me that I do still want that leather thimble. Her presence felt so strongly sitting right there alongside. Perhaps sewing too.

It’s all here ~ cut and sewed perhaps while sitting in front of the heater in the store. Sitting in that chair with feet on worn hardwood floors, sewing in lap, looking out the door. A woman whom I dearly always adored and still do. A woman who pulls at my heart still in ways stronger than there are words.

I’m so glad I cleaned out the closet today.

yay!!!

i can download pics onto wordpress from my flickr !

we’re back in business people ! :))))

in a blogging funk.

i still cant use my wordpress account, it says it accepts jpg pics but wont upload mine. but it did just upload a pic i tweaked on picnik! :) so it isnt totally cranky..

ive been using my blogger account, and i miss you wordpress. there are so many more cool features over here. blogger is out.of.date. boohoo ! and i’ve got knitting stuffs i want to share with you. ..

Hello all…. WordPress is still not uploading any of my pics, sorry.

Plenty of knitting happening in spite – in fact – a new pattern giveaway

on my ‘working’ blog !  

Pop over to norwood walkabouts  and enter.

x

Hi guys :: i got a new camera!

T’would appear, however, that WordPress does not liketh my Nikon.

It doesn’t allow jpg’s whatever they are.

What is double knitting too while we are being inquisitive?

Anyhow, i’m blogging HERE until i figure it all out.

Some eye candy for you from my knitters stash !

This is a great knit, with super wonderful yarn.

A wintery shawl for me – in the colourways i love – red and whites.

My favorite quilts are late 18th century red and whites, solomons puzzle, cherry basket, stars, colonials.

Wollmeise yarn is a delight !

Happy New Year !

study shawl pattern on ravelry.

hello dear friends…gosh

its been such a long while since ive been here

and so much has happened

happy things and sad things

twists and twirls of life

some things cannot be placed into words properly

they can only been seen and heard and imagined

but never written

or read

to their justification

so lets just talk knitting instead.

i knitted this hat over christmas holidays – i love it. so much fun to see the pattern grow into place.i cant wait to knit it again using a plain yarn – the varigated hacho is lovely and soft (not to mention ive still got 6 skeins of it…). I do believe a plain yarn will make the rose leaves pop out. its a ysolda pattern. i love ysolda. we have a special friendship arrangement, she and i . she makes the patterns, and i buy them. i love them. this hat is the rose red.

this is my first knitting project in three months time.

it feels good to be knitting once again.

my grandmother said recently on the phone ” laughter is better than a pill”.

i think that is true. and when you feel like it, knitting is a great mender.

it can help you to pull yourself back together, stand against the wind, be brave,

and look forward to tomorrow.

Oh the joy. I bought lace. (online) I’ve never seen lace. When it arrived, i had to put my glasses on so that i could find it. (joking) I do love it… the colour reminds me of the blooms of Australia – the wattle, the many yellowey blooming trees, and it also reminds me of a fluffy new baby chicken.
First up, i handwound my lace skein. This took awhile, and i did complain. Second up, i assembled my new interchangable KnitPro bamboo needles (love them already). Third, i consulted my PATTERN. I am to cast on several hundred lace stitches and keep them from rolling and then join. No problem.
Problem. Oh my godfather. This stuff does like to roll. Imagine having several hundred little fluffy new yellow baby chicks , now imagine yourself lining them all up in a new row facing north. Well its just impossible.
Persisting onwards anyhow,, and hoping to myself several rows into it will get easier or sort itself out. Don’t you love it when things just sort themselves out? I’m a big believer in it -

{sooo… does anyone know an easy way to get rid of a twist (or two) once you’ve started? I’ll be your best friend…}

I’m reading some great novels.. last week i finished a short story book on South African tales by Doris Lessing. I also read Bite of the Mango, by Mariatu Kamara. Next up has been a series of tales of misfortune in the outback..which was quite reassuring me i do not want to go any further than i am now! My hubby is reading lots of book on ‘outback adventure’ and ’4wheel driving’. His survival guide says an outback adventurer should firstly always expect and fear the worst. Check.

My Cria sweater now has one sleeve , a neckline, and three buttons ! It’s coming along…snail pace. Just in time for our 100degree weather.

I’ve waffled on enough i believe.. Linking up with ginny . See you there!

:: we lost internet/ phone connection for 4 days. Sorry for me? Don’t be! I think it was just splendid… I started a new quilt!
:: being forcefully ‘unplugged’ has made me realize how much time we do spend online. in hindsight it seems a great loss of time.
:: as a creative artful being, i have it all right inside of me. and yet, for the last year or so, i feel i look to the internet for guidance and even instruction when i feel creative. mind you, i like to see what other folks are doing in their lives – but i don’t want to be like or do like anybody else i know. i want to think up my own stuff.
:: so all these little epiphonies of sorts make my Leo mind run wild and long story short i’ve started a snazzeling new quilt. Using the bar measurements from the book ‘material obsession‘ – [its called a courthouse steps block]. In her book she names her quilt Retro something.
:: anyway back to my epiphony. why do we spend such a great amount of time on electric contraptions? aren’t they cold. aren’t they basic and lacking sensation. why does then the human of today feel so connected to wires and poly screens and strange people you’ll never meet?
:: i’m reading a great book. a collection of south african short stories. i’m brewing tea by the pot full. i’m thinking all sorts of thoughts. i attribute it to good books, good tea, and good old fashioned unplugged living. for four days.
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

NEW PROJECT :: this

YARN USING :: lovely bamboo by sarah

FINISHED PROJECT :: this

My my those little goblins of mine sure did block it well

More lovely knitting at ginny\’s place.x

ps. i’ve got some lluuuuvvverly YARN heading my way, and some new needles too ! Ahh… a beautiful spring project in my head. Hints? Lets just say… tosh. yellow. knitpro. and maybe some Wollmeise too? Don’t worry… I haven’t forgotten you ms. olive …. i’m picking out the yarn right now.

My cria has had some competetion this weekend.  I had to push it aside (i can still hear it whimpering)… while I made a silky lace shawl for a 60th bd present. I did this in two days ! This is a good beautiful quick and easy knit. I am pleased with the way it has turned out, blocking it now. My children thought it fascinating that the same object that got them hushed and shushed and fingerpoint sent out of the room they now were asked to pin and water spray the devil out of !! Children can block wonderfully !!

There are some things I will say about this little lace shawl pattern. It is broken up quite nicely, in little pattern sections. It is free (ravelry = my notes). I had the silk in stash. It makes a delightful soft luxurious scarf. ( Can you tell I want to keep It??) Corinthians says “God loves a cheerful giver “. I do love giving handmade gifts. Strait from the heart , I say.  But I do however have a little treat in store for myself. Ahhh.

And….. guess what else?!? I am the proud new owner of this :::
Say no more. I’m over the moon. Oh vamp.. you are my contact and my eye is my eye and i’ve got my EYE on YOU. XXXXXXX

(cloudy with a chance of meatballs)

we’ve been on the move.. my cria and me. My little stash basket works great for carrying my knitting round! Did i ever show it to yoU? I just love how the garters and purls and (the last ball of ) the Malabrigo yarn peeks out at you. Alot of stitches go into making an adult sweater let me just say. As I make this I realize as the years roll on each time I wear this sweater I know I will think back to where I was when I knitted it :: here in the Kimberley.

I am now down the the pockets. Based on several other knitters experience with Malabrigo and the Cria’s they have finished – I cut my Body part shorter than the pattern instructions. I did the 37 rows, the increase, then the 27 rows, then another increase. 10 rows into the next and final 27 rows, I binded off for the pockets.

Under each arm is a faux pearl seam, marked by a single stitch marker. The pocket you see here is the left pocket, marked by a stitch marker at both ends. The other side is the same, except between my faux pearl underarm seam to the beginning of the pocket has a problem. One side counts 17 stitches, the other 22. This is rather significant, but luckily I am pretty happy go lucky and have not screamed or had a panic attack. I have no idea how this happened, but i’m sure nobody will be standing on their head with their rear end up in the air counting my pocket to side stitch. (Will you?)

Front look. See the little pockets? I’ve never done pockets…. cute ! 10 more rows and it’s finished!!! Boy am I excited .

This is the back. Based on my calculations , the sweater pockets should sit right at my hip bones. Perfect. (This is before blocking,, however. I hear Malabrigo grows quite a bit.) We shall see just how much ! Anyone with a Malabrigo blocking tip or experience to share?

With some leftover planks of wood, some clay, and sticks and fabrics and paints …. we made BOATS. We combined our Art class with our Design classes in Homeschooling this week to make our model boats for our friday Regatta Racing Day. We gave our boats a coat of paint, cool clay figure drivers, fabric stick sails, and each a name (our favorite things). See me, I’ve got the All American Attitude just before racing.. (i’m gonna win!!!)

So we filled up the mudhole , made the start and finish signs , and otherwise declared a few rules. {All of which were broken// My sister would have been beside herself = she once wrote the badmitten championship rules on a huge whiteboard and made us all read them aloud together before we could begin. :) And this was in our adulthood!!}

That is dear hubby and myself miraculously afloat the USA. His beanie is a Canadian Oak Acorn cap, and I am looking marvelous and very granny in my beehive hairdo and old lady shawl. Perhaps we will hit the seas in our retirement? (The USA struck a mudbar and did go no further.)

As you can see, I do believe Ben10 was the winner,, with black spidey closely behind! After lunch, we are going to prepare a ‘report’ of how our race went, things to improve upon in the future with boat design and racing. The kids are great, they enjoyed it, these boats will see heaps more playing with ! (Our finish sign is made with bamboo sticks and a Coconut Palm frond. I love it when nature provides.)

Have a great weekend !

Well,,  we’re as happy as can Bee, My little Cria and me !

I must say,, its coming along rather fast too. Mind you, I have done little else craftwise and I am perfectly content to pick up this knitting whenever I find a slot during the day or night. Hubby in there complaining his feet are sticking to the kitchen floor and something about mopping. Blah Blah. (Doesn’t he know I have more pressing issues??)

So around page 8 of this pattern ( on Yoke, continued) it says ‘repeat last 4 rows 5 more times. Well, I noticed of course after those 5 rows were finished that I had mistakingly repeated the last 2 rows 5 times more. Bah ! Stupid…so I then had a decision to make. This part was the gradual Make 1 on either side of the sleeve cuffs you see pictured above. So instead of mine increases being over 4 rows, they were over 2. So basically my sleeves were going to puff right out till next week. Decisions = Pull out 300 x 10 stitches (two days work).. or puff. I took the puff. I did the two first rows 5 times afterwards to make sure I had the same number of rows complete. All seems to be just fine.

I do like that this pattern is different, interesting, all done completely in the round with no seams or piecing. I love this Malabrigo yarn. I love knitting patterns that go from the top down, so you can try them on and see how the sizing is going.

When Hubby came home from school to whisk me away to the police department this arvo, (fingerprinting for immigration – don’t worry)… I was still wearing my little Cria as shown in the last pic. I sure am happy and It feels so great to finally make something knitted for ME !!

I don’t know why I haven’t before now. So It’s a bit of a sudden compulsion I must admit. The kids are saying make me this , i’d love a sweater mum, but I can’t even hear them. I am thinking already of what else I’m going to make for ME. Hmn. Will it be February Lady Sweater, Melia, Olive, Coraline ? I love them all. Hey, I’ve got some Dk wool – (stashed here) … and I would like to tweak one of the above patterns to suit this wool. Most say a heavier gauge wool, like a worsted. But I see several others have used a Dk, so to do this does one go up a needle size to get the right gauge? Is that how we do it? I like Dk, its easier to wear inside or under a coat without feeling like a penguin or getting too hot. I’d love your advice anyway. I need more experience on knit tweaking. Perhaps a bit of Elizabeth Zimmerman Reading would guide me in the right direction….

Have you a favorite knitted cardigan pattern you’ve done? I’ll add it to my list as well ! Happy Knitting all !!!

GETTING READY TO SEW

Before sewing linen fabric, you should ”treat” it to fix any irregularities in the grain and prevent it from shrinking when you  apply a steam iron or launder it. Soak linen for an hour in water, then run it through the washing machine on gentle. Afterward, hang the fabric up to dry dripping by its selvedge side.  When it is nearly dry, iron it with a dry iron on the wrong side.

(Text in part by AKIKO MANO, written in LINEN, WOOL, COTTON. )

*** i do love picking out new linens for home sewing.                      linen teatowels in the kitchen are the best.                                       linens with herb prints chosen for a cooking apron.                           apple linens chosen to back my spiderweb quilt. ***

What’s your favorite use of linen?

Meet my Bee Cria.

There are many things (many) that I could say about her, but I won’t.

To put it simply, i love her.

We are going to be best buddies, I can tell.

xoxoxoxox 

ps. more wordy knitters to be found at Ginny\’s.

Hello dear friends. What a week it has been. News of an earthquake and hurricane overseas, which is still on my mind and affecting my friends on the east coast. Sickness here in our household, of various sorts. I can say I have the utmost respect for the amazing discovery of Penicillin, and would be long ago deceased without it. Aren’t we lucky to live in this day and age.

We have mango trees, and boy are they fruiting. Soon, we will have mango delights ! It is such fun to live in a tropical climate, so different to anything i’ve ever experienced before. It has now been ‘dry’ for 6 months, wonderful cool weather. In the next few months it will heat up and bring the rainy ‘wet’ season with it. During the exchange, we experience 8 full months without a single drop of rain. Marvelous how the trees and plants and people adapt.

Due to our illnesses of sorts we’ve had some downtime from the homeschooling, but we have managed to complete our newspaper Biology man, turning it into a fun game to boot. This was super fun for us all….. Moving on into Roman Numerals in our Maths.

I myself having revelations of sorts as I continue reading “Art of zen” as discussed before. So many things I could post from it, but I won’t. Just read it sometime, won’t yoU?  It has helped me become more rooted – in a foreign country that isn’t easy to do I had thought. But aren’t you the same person wherever you roam? Perhaps life throws little tests at us ; intervalls of teaching and learning. The world keeps spinning around and around.

( I’m glad to be on it. )

Ravelled here . The Puerperium Cardy. Inspired by several other knitters from last weeks linkup – i’ve wanted to try this little pattern for ages. I have loved every stitch too, its simple, easy, and loving the way it shapes itself. I love knitting in the round. Linking up again with Ginny\’s crew.

I have decided to use the leftover scrap yarn pieces from my Baby Cashmerino Blanket, crocheted a few months ( years ) past.  The project only uses a small amount of yarn ( 20 grams ) and so scrap yarn makes do quite nicely — if you don’t mind a thousand little bits hanging out to weave in later. :)  I do love how it matches my blanket, cute cute cute.  If you have scrap dk yarn about and need a quick handmade for a newborn, this is it !  Coming up…. little pants to match !

“” To the untrained eye ego – climbing and selfless climbing may appear identical.  Both kinds of climbers place one foot in front of the other.  Both breathe in and out at the same rate.  Both stop when tired.  Both go forward when rested.  But what a difference!  The ego – climber is like an instrument that’s out of adjustment.  He puts his foot down an instant too soon or too late.  He’s likely to miss a beautiful passage of sunlight through the trees.  He goes on when the sloppiness of his step shows he’s tired.  He rests at odd times.  He looks up the trail trying to see what’s ahead even when he knows what’s ahead because he just looked a second before.  He goes too fast or too slow for the conditions and when he talks his talk is forever about somewhere else, something else.  He’s here but he’s not here.  He rejects the here, is unhappy with it, wants to be farther up the trail but when he gets there will be just as unhappy because then it will be “here”.  What he’s looking for, what he wants, is all around him, but he doesn’t want that because it is all around him.  Every step’s an effort, both physically and spiritually, because he imagines his goal to be external and distant.”     

 - p. 206, Art of Zen and Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig

Loving this book. Loving my crochet kitchen goodies of this week ( hot pots, washcloths, and dishtowels). Pictured is the hot pot , pattern is here. Loving especially,,,, my birthday present today…that beautiful red Nancybird bag!  Isn’t it gorgeous! Other knitters/crocheters and readers to be found at Ginny\’s.

Have you read this book? Are you an ego- climber or a selfless climber? I think we are all both at times. It is certainly my goal to try and be more where I am at the moment physically. It is not the ideal place, and I do get homesick. But wherever we all find ourselves, there is some beauty in that if we hold up our heads and look for it . x

For now she need not think about anybody.
She could be herself. And that was what now, she often
felt the need of — to think; well not even to think.
To be silent; to be alone. All the being and the doing,
expansive, glittering, vocal, evaporated . . .
Although she continued to knit, and sat upright, it was
thus that she felt herself; and this self having
shed its attachments was free for the strangest adventure.

From To the Lighthouse, VIRGINIA WOOLF, 1927

I’m so excited ! Awhile back I advertised for a book swap … my wishes came true and then some!   I received in the mail this week two of the loveliest JAPANESE SEWING BOOKS ever. I LOVE japanese craft books. But I always wondered… can one actually sew clothing from a pattern written in language one cannot read?

Well, my friends, I have the answer for the question now !  Yes,,, why yes one can !

The very first thing I did onest these lovely books arrived… was study them. Carry them round, to the bath, to the kitchen (while cooking tea~!), to bed … and really study the patterns and pictures. What I do love about these books, is what it has done for me personally , on a sewing enhancement level. Saving you from too deep a philosophical session, basically sewing patterns instructions confuse me. Even the ones other people say are ”easy” to follow. {Especially those}. Now I don’t know for the life of me why, but I am just no good at following instructions. I don’t like to either. I’d totally rather look at it, study it, and get to the end myself. You know?

Of course you know. You definitely know. See how well illustrated this pattern is? There wasn’t even a need for words. I did find out thru ‘detective Angela work’ how the word front is written in Japanese (and then promptly went round drawing it to friends to impress..).  Simple.  Study.  Trace*.  Cut.  Sew.  Admire. 

*Trace was a bit of an event from hell,, but we got there. Lines. Man oh man. The lines.

Ta-dah! Here she is. Hanging on a Gum Tree, swaying in the Kimberley breeze. This is the first top in the book (Pattern a, flickr group here). Sewn in Heather Ross frogs and tadpoles, I omitted the front pockets and added a vintage pink lace trim instead. I do love it. This is the size 100cm, the smallest in this book, and looks to fit a 3-5 year old. I did add a couple of inches to the bottom to make it longer, otherwise just as in the pattern.

I’d love to know.. do any of you have a favorite Japanese sewing book? Any experience on this topic to share? Expect to see much more sewing from these books! Sewing for girls is so much fun. Thanks to you Bronwyn for this fabulous trade, I’m so happy!

Howdy all !!!

How bout a birds eye view of some crafties to start us off, eh?

These are the items i’ve been working on… to enter them into the local Western Australia Crafters Show next week! This will be my very first time entering into a show…and boy am i excited.  There is the Waldorf Dolly, which i made from an old t-shirt, and dress made by Grandma who just visited us. Also being entered is the Elephants on Parade Vest ( which is on Ravelry ) .. i just love it. This being my first ever attempt at “GRAPH KNITTING”. (also last ever attempt people, so look good at it.)  Still a work in progress is my  Bias Tape Toothbrush Floor rug – growing and growing. And last but not least, is my beloved crochet baby blanket:: made in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino, edged in Silk Charcoal, and totally delightful to the touch and eyes. It needs blocking. I really don’t like blocking. Can someone please come and block all of my finished projects?? Ah yes.. and thrown in just to make myself look super busy are the ‘Neighborly Vest’ , which i forgot to give to Grandma to armhole pick-up while she was on such a roll (darnit), and my ‘Lucy Attic 24′ crochet bag. Which i do love, and can’t wait to finish and use.

So next up :: the homeschooling front. We’ve been on a two week school holidays here. There are lots of holidays in Australia. Basically you’ll go for 10 weeks and then have two off. I love it. They just don’t take anything too seriously here in Australia, you know. Cause all work and no play.. So it was back to school for us. What did we do? Well,,,, not wanting to get to crazy into heavy stuff on the first day back. The kids worked on making a picture collage. Just look at them, all busy and interested. Drawing, cutting , and pasting. They picked their own themes, drew the pictures, and then glued them onto A4 poster paper. When they were all finished, I got them to tell me a story about it. This is fun and interesting for all age groups. My 3 year old drew all superhero characters and two snakes (an angry snake and a nice one). There was also sticky mud for a trap. My 6 year old made his a sea drawing with a sea snake, algae, and mangrove trees with roots. He named his picture ” MY WORLD “  and wrote a story to go along with his. This is excellent portfolio work.  (See how my little one insists on dressing up for school each morning with his silk scarf ! mama loves it. )

Ah. Here’s my particular new favorite pasttime. This is going to be a real sweet beauty. It is the ‘spiderweb selvedge quilt’ and I am making mine with a pair of old pink linen pants and of course, selvedges. While granny was here, I got to dig it out and add three new pie squares. This is a simple and satisfying quilt to make, and rather quick. Which is why for the life of me I cannot understand why it is taking me so long to progress on it. Two more pieces yet till i actually have one whole spider web. I suppose with kids and cooking and (not) cleaning and homeschooling, the quilting always gets pushed back. Even though it is such a strong passion for me. * Sad *.  I will leave you with  a cute little writeup from an American Quilting Magazine, found at a thrift shop. Have a great week all.. love love !XX

” NOT YET, FATHER TIME ! “   (by Alice Evanick)

Art is long, and time is fleeting – wrote a poet long ago. Art is long doesn’t have much meaning – Time is fleeting – that i know !! 

Time is fleeting, hurrying, scurrying, Running fast as it can go. While I vacuum, bring in the wash, Fold the clothes, and shovel snow.

Time for quilting, how to find it ? Always something else comes first. Better write or call my mother, Or she’ll surely think the worst !

Wash the floor, and weed the garden, Golf, and cook, and shop , and bowl, Buy the groceries, hit the garage sales, Go see the children in St. Paul.

Homespun chores eat up the minutes – Bring in the wood when weather’s cool. Pack lunches for the children, So they’ll do their best at school.

” Go swiftly walking four miles a day ” Say the books , doctors, and such.  But do these experts leave time for quilting ? Are you kidding ? No, not much !

Face it people, time for quilting Must be grabbed, and squeezed, and stored. We all know the quilter’s motto ::  ‘never close your ironing board!’

Lest the time should ‘fleet’ right by me When I have an hour to spare, I’ll sew those finished blocks together, And smooth them out with special care.

Soon, I must be ‘up and doing’ For my family, friends, and guests. First, let me finish up this stitching, quilting, binding, and the rest.

Now there’s grandchildren, and each one Must have a quilt that’s made with love. No time ever to get ready for that quilt show ‘up above’ !

Then when Father Time does call me To that great quilt show in the sky, I’ll ask for another half a century – I  still have patterns left to try !

I’ll need hours and days and leap years, Four score years, and twenty more, Just to use the scraps I have now – and there’s more material at the store !

My goodness, it’s been awhile!

Busy Busy Busy crafting here… so many wonderful things to share with you !

My blanket , long time in progress, is as-we-speak getting oversewn and finished.

I’ve got a wonderful granny visiting us here at the moment, and she is a marvelous neck band picker upper!!! So I am loving handing over these vests and sweaters from the to-do pile! Aah, it feels so so good to pull knitted items out of the drawer where they gather dust and become outgrown (before they’ve been worn) and hand them over to a pro. More on that later… much to reveal! And this granny has been busy making dolls dresses too! What a multi talented one she is.

With my Giant Granny Square crochet along? I went until my wool ran out, and turned it into a lovely pillow covering. LOVE IT.

My Attic 24 crochet basket is coming along a charm… Only have the flowers to add and all finished. Love it also.

Who doesn’t love pineapple upsides?

The pincushion…isn’t it gorgeous? Thank you  Wendy ,, i love it. So perfect. x

crinkly Cerebrum Craft

chakra check

photosynthesis lesson

We have been having an absolutely great homeschooling week so far !  Organization and lesson plans have nicely collided, giving us a lovely routined schedule for our days.  Today for science/health we did a body sketch onto newspaper and began our first lesson ,,,, the brain.  My children (even the youngest!!) sat enthralled as the accordian style Cerebrum became glued and attached up on the head.  Next week…. the heart !  This is truly fun. { I am a major biology geek }

Little Red Riding Hood Sketch

my weekly

Hi guys…teaming up with small things tonight. Don’t you love to see what other folks are making and reading? I do. It’s one of my top questions I think I ask people. Whatcha reading? Whatcha making? Whatcha eating?

I wish a big gooey chocolate brownie was up there in my photo…not gooeying itself on my flash { i-started-last year-ahem } crochet blanket i mean,, and definitely not on that new library book {you wouldn’t believe how many we’ve bought already } …. but waiting to go into my beak. Can you tell its tea time? No smells coming from the kitchen,,here i sit…

I have been on a serious RAVELRY rampage lately. I want to make this crochet case, and this pompomy hat, and every night i drool over this lady\’s extremely awesome sweater……however I have declared myself to be ‘cleaning out the closet’. Soooooooooo….all those projects sitting in that drawer are getting pulled out and finished. ONE by ONE. I think i’m gonna open up a page to share my closet cleans. Anyone care to join in?

HI guys! I just so happen to have two copies of the following books…..both are new and never read, I had bought for myself and also received as a present. Would anybody like to do a crafty book swap for either or both of these beauties?

Making Waldorf Dolls, by Maricristin Sealey, is the guru of dollmaking books. You will fall in love with this book and never need another. It is complete. It has patterns for all dolls and clothings, most easily followed, with beautiful hand drawn illustrations. Here are some dolls I have made with this book.

Second is the FaLaLaLa Felt Christmas Book….just beautiful! The most amazing gifts .. my children loved making these with me and putting them on our tree. Handmade ornaments are so wonderful. This book is also new never read. I bought it, then won it. Here are some of the ornaments we made last year.. I made many more and gave them away!

I would like to trade these books for relatively new crafty books that you may also have double copies of!

Don’t miss my latest GIVEAWAY!  I will pick the winner on Saturday. x

Telling the Bees

It was once a widespread superstition that any important family news should be shared with the bees.  ‘Telling the bees’ was particularly important if there was a death in the family – if the bees were not told it was thought that they would either die, or swarm and leave their hive forever.  Sometimes a set routine was followed :  the teller might first knock on the hive with the key to the house, or a set phrase would be used to impart the news, such as ‘Bees, bees, your master’s dead, and now you must work for your missis’.  The hives were often draped in black cloth when there was a death in the family, and the bees were ‘invited’ to the funeral.  At its most extreme, the custom also involved briefly lifting the hives at the same moment as the coffin was lifted to be taken from the house for burial, thus symbolizing the bees’ inclusion in the funeral procession.  Telling the bees was a commonly observed custom in the 19th century, and while such traditions as draping the hives with mourning cloth date from that century, it is not known how much older the practice of keeping your bees informed of family news might be.  Some modern day beekeepers continue the tradition of politely informing their bees of any changes in the household.

There are a number of other superstitions relating to bees, all of which are characterized by the belief that they are sensitive to human behaviour and quick to take offence.  Bees are said not to like bad language, and will not thrive if the family that owns them is quarrelsome.  Well into the 20th century, many people believed that bees should not be bought and sold in the normal way because this would offend them.  They were most commonly bartered (a swarm in exchange for a small pig, for example).  At a push, some beekeepers thought that bees could be exchanged for gold, and while some saw no harm in giving them as a gift, others believed that bad luck would follow this.  Bees have also been thought wise and pious, and were once said to hum in their hives at midnight on Christmas Eve to honour the birth of JESUS.

{All text belonging to LOST CRAFTS  by Una McGovern.}

• we have become much closer as a family. our days flow so nicely. we understand, communicate, respect trust and appreciate each other so,much,more.
• the children play better together. much less squibbling. jack becomes a teacher of sorts to his younger brother (one of my favorite aspects of the waldorf + montessori learning approach - where younger children often learn from older children). everything is well relaxed, everyone is well rested. everyone sees the key role we each play in this family.
• Television and Computer time has virtually eliminated itself, naturally. Something which bothered me and I spent energy wondering how to lessen in our lifes – has just dissapeared. Nobody asks for it now. There is so much fun going on. We still do watch a movie or something, but mama is so very happy this is not a problem in our lives anymore!

I am working on a weekly chart with our rhythms of the days. Usually we begin between 8 and 9. I light the candle. I burn GERANIUM. We sit on the sheepskins in a circle. We stretch, sing a song and have a Waldorf Lesson. Do a drawing of the story read and practice our letters. The new letter this week was W : and on the journey to visit the Wise Sophia  in the mountain (M) – they cross a windy path (s), enter into a valley (v), and come out into a forest of trees (T). The family then enter into a section of the river which is large with rapids and waves (W) , thus too wild to cross without first making a boat. 

My children are really into this ongoing tale – and the association of letters coming from earthly formations is magical indeed. Just yesterday Jack was drawing an M into the sand at the park with his stick. He then played with little rocks as they were climbing up to his ‘mountain’. (so it must be working!!)

Thank you all for your encouragement on this launch into our homeschooling, its a real boost for me! x

diamond, tricut, scallop edgings + dottie angel blanket

                                                    ::  CROCHET EDGING ::

 A nice selection for your viewing pleasure ::

GREEN: scallop edging. easy. i’ll go with that for pillowcases. doesn’t use much yarn.

PURPLE: trifoil edging. adds height and majestic nature , a bit crowny. pattern looked terrible but was pretty easy! I learned new stitches, the half double treble and the treble4together. i like this one.

BLUE : Diamond edging. the diamond is only half finished (abandoned) as the pattern quickly turned into a very long paragraph of alien fish gibberish. Something like .. place leg cluster and draw loop and yoh yoh and miss two yohs and chsp thru 6 base hole clusters. OoOOoo. Suddenly I felt like Pete Seeger was in the room and I was reading words to a folk song. If you can do this edging, then you are seriously waaaaay cool.

 I won’t even show you what the butterfly lip, ricrac, and scallop edgings turned out  like – where do they get these names ? 

Believe me, it was fun. In an excited feverish sortof way. I do love the purple one, its height and the little crowns were certainly amusing to create. I did learn a few new stitches. And I totally know how to land an alien spacecraft now.

I see lovely little crochet edgings along pillowcases, neckscarves, handkerchiefs, doilies, and skirts. And it does make me ever so happy to see them.   Do you have a favorite crochet edging? 

Now we can really have a puppet show.

She is gorgeous, no? (Love that red koolaid dyed hair!) These are for my Nesta, who will be three tomorrow…two is such a precious little age, and three is my favorite.

Hello! Meet our new little friend. I made him in an hours time. A very enjoyable and simple project from Beyond the Rainbow Bridge. All made with recycled materials…his head is made with a white singlet, his body a wool blanket cutting, a blue cape from wool felt. He is stuffed with wool and has a round river stone sewn the bottom for standing. His hair is wool roving which I dyed with Black Sunflower Seeds last year! More about Natural Plant Dyeing here.

far far away quiltunicorns, frogs, princesses x

I am loving my new quilt in progress.

It is soft, light, comforting.

Perfect for couch snuggling.

A homemade quilt truly makes a house a home. x

Hello! Welcome to my space…I am proudly hosting a giveaway as part of this years Sew Mama Sew MAY DAY Giveaway ! Last year I won several lovely things by entering, and met some great crafters by blog hopping. So….this year I have decided to make something for you.

satchel & crochet flowers

 My satchel is a pattern from handmade home.  It is a generous 12 x 12 inch size; sewn with lovely Echino Linen by  Etsuko Furuya.

Lined with Amy Butler’s cotton interfacing, and closing with a Sterling Magnetic Snap. Dazzling !

I have also popped into this winning prize two of my gorgeous little crochet creations.

 

Pretty crochet flowers

Star Flower Hot Pad crochet with BlueSky Alpacas Organic Cotton {my favorite}. Flower square crochet with Debbie Bliss Cashmere. Do you just love it?

To enter this giveaway, no matter where you are, just leave a comment!  Couldn’t get any easier than that!

For an additional entry, follow this blog. You may do so by subscribing by email or feeds, or copy and paste the address onto your blogger list. Let me know which method you choose, and enter one more time. 

If you are not a blogger, you MUST leave a way in which i can contact you on the comment, or it will be deleted!

I will pick the winner MAY 25 via Random Number Generator. Best of Luck!

         COMMENTS ARE CLOSED….     Random Gen picked number 113…..

         Amanda Pedro at By Hook & Thread!

         Looks like my goodies are going to Canada! x

To check out and enter all of the other hundreds of generous people participating in this giant giveaway party, simply click on the Sew Mama Sew photo link at the top of my blog. It will take you directly to there!

love love love! Angelina x

Wise Sophia drawing book : Day 1

We are using a nice happy blend of teaching curriculums. My Waldorf Homeschooling texts are a favorite, i have had them for ages and read quite often. {Melisa Nielsen’s link on blogroll}. The binding is creased, the pages are all marked with leaves and pine twigs. {Lots of outside reading while playing at parks etc.} We also enjoy several Usborne texts, along with Greek and Norse Mythology. The Faber Storybook by Kathleen Lines is great, full of enchanted legends and tales of magic. {She has several books which are great.}

Homeschooling Texts

Today, we have just finished a Grade 1 lesson.
”The Wise Sophia” by Melisa Nielsen.
It is the beginning of a journey, a spiritual quest taken by a family, from their village up to the Mountain to visit the wise enchantress Sophia. Each child takes this journey as they reach the age of 7. The wise Sophia gives them the gift of knowledge.

The story is broken down into bits, and provides the basis for a weekly theme, with several form drawings associated with it. This is several things in one, an introduction to form drawings and letters associated with things discovered in nature. Also a family’s quest for the ultimate gift – that of knowledge – which i find very appropriate for our family as we begin this wonderful journey of homeschooling together.

crochet hot pad

Howdy all!

Yes,,she is still up to the crochet. Last night’s crochet episode involved trying to master this African Flower Hexagon. Take three. (ahem) It’s fun! My days are busy with the mundo bordo stuff usually. Housekeeping, children, meals, blah blah. So at night when all are asleep is when i get to do my beloved crochet! I get a twinkle in my eye, a spring in my step! I say to John … ” lets get the kids asleep early, so we can go to BED!”  The twinkle is now in his eye, too! What a supportive man to my craft…I am thinking. Cup of tea, you tube music, Neroli in the essential oil burner, pattern -yarn- hooks all in hand. The moment for myself has arrived !! I can finally crochet! John grabs a book, with a sigh. Clean shaven and all. :)

My Star Hot Pad is complete. {pattern link up top above pic.} It was a tricky pattern…but nice. Will I be keen to pop upon top of the little darling a nice hot bubbling crockpot full of stew? You bet yourselves….not.

A little antsy as of late. Many folks thinking and talking of getting old! And its got me thinking..We went camping over easter and I realized with practice I could do a handstand still! It really gave me a double energy boost ….{and maybe i’m not so old!} But with time comes the inevitable aging of ones eyes, face, bones, mind, and other parts. It’s just part of the cycle of life. My son must perceive so much in thought and by listening to those around him. Just yesterday outside he says as wrapping himself around the backporch  “i’m just too old to climb this pole!”  If this is true……{since he is SIX!} there’s no hope for us all !!

I am also feeling some excitement,,,about new babies. Several new little earthlings soon to grace this world with their presence. So excited to meet them! Important to have those young ones near, it does much for keeping the spirit young, don’t you agree? {i’m coming home soon daddy,,,,you hang in there!}

Gathering myself and my crafty abilities for a big giveaway, the Sew Mama Sew giveaway marathon starts soon! And i’m in ! So brace yourselves and get ready for my big giveaway here ! I always say,,when the universe is good to you, pass it on if you can. I have been so lucky with giveaways and nice people who send me care packages. I have met the nicest people on this blogging journey. I do love the feeling of connection it gives me. Thank you all for reading, commenting, visiting. It makes me feel wrapped in love.  

Peace to you all…

Listen to some Bob Marley today, won’t you? It’s his anniversary…

xo

crochet flowers

Hello!!!! I am loving this morning, its fresh, breezy, crisp. A slight hint of campfire smoke in the air…which reminds me of home, and fall, and barbeque…
I have been steadily working on filling my basket with little crochet flowers. Last night my first attempt at an african flower..there is a great flikr group which i cannot seem to successfully link for you on here.

Do any of you lovelies wordpress by chance? I have figured a few things out,,,as you may well can see. But i still seem to be having several tiny issues. How to insert a link? How to get my featured photos to show up on the main page posts? How to see my followers?

Anyway,have a good day won’t you! If i can get rid of this terrible chest cold, I will begin my quilt.

Alice came to a fork in the road.  “Which road do I take?”  she asked.   “Where do you want to go?” responded the Cheshire cat.  ” I don’t know, “  Alice  answered.  “Then,”  said the cat,  ” it doesn’t matter.”    ~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland.

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