fiZZyFibRes

Mother's Day - Part Two.........

2008-05-12T15:33:00.038+10:00

Somehow I managed to leave out the kids in my previous posting.......so thought I should have a look at motherhood.
After all isn't that why we have Mother's Day.

Ya know most cats start off pretty cool

The mother's Day story must start with a meeting of sorts.....

then one thing leads to another and

Generally there is a lot of praying going on after the event either for or against........(I realise this is pretty basic kinda stuff..........I do know about birth control...........)

but regardless of which way the prayers go this is the ususal culmination of the situation:

generally craving unusual foods

After a while the nesting instinct takes over and a suitable place has to be established.

or a

Eventually after waiting a while these pop out

and your life is never the same

They are there with you all the time...you have to share everything.....

A normal size house doesn't seem large enough when they arrive..............

and the bed is no longer yours

They join you in the

And it seems all lovely and cute
Then the fun starts

Firstly they jump all over your good furniture without a care in the world

They complain about food..........

or else want to eat things you don't approve of

They won't bathe when you want them too and wrestle you like hell!

If your lucky toilet training works

and I won't discuss what happens when it doesn't.

Oh and a lot of

and

to save them from

danger.

Then life goes on.........school, friends.........and eventually teenage years where you really wish you could go

You do lots of driving here and there

always hoping you don't find this

and being generally

Oh and that once cute thing can come out with most nasty comments especially after all you've given up for it!

At those moments you just need to go hide and chill out

because IT IS POSSIBLE that the sweet thing may become a normal cat being.

Even if it doesn't just REMEMBER you will always continue being an ultra cool

SO join a knitting or crochet group

AND

Mothers Day, women's work and other things

2008-05-11T15:00:00.032+10:00

I seriously do not do mornings which is why on Mother's Day I sleep in!

Then I got to thinking about mothers being housewives and found all these wonderful pictures:

All this scrubbing and suds are sooooooo exhausting....but if I don't do it who will? After all it's my job.

Aren't we two happy girls.....washing and scrubbing our clothes! Right next to my gorgous new fridge. Next my darling is going to buy me a washing machine.

We have sooooooooo much fun hanging the clothes out together. She's gonna really know how to do it all when she grows up to be a housewife and mother just like me.

Bloody Ironing...........................

But now I'm all ready to clean...........Oh I just can't wait!

And I love my new big hoover......get's that dust right out of everything!

Sometimes I even dress up for cleaning.......and I make sure I top the outfit off with a gorgeous pair of yellow gloves to save my manicure. Can't have hubby thinking that my hands would be ruined.

Now down to the meals...........all those lovely things I cook three times a day.........

******but first I must visit the shops, get the trolley, load it up with food and stuff, pay for it, pack it and go home and unload it all! It's such a joy and I can't wait to do it every week!

I can't wait to get into the kitchen....

Though trying to work out recipes can be a tad tricky...........so many meals to cook and they all have to be different....
especially when I am budgeting................

And trying to get it all right so everything finishes at the same time can be fraught with tensions!

Sometimes I just swirl my way round the kitchen and have fun.

And other times.....though I don't say it often.... I get a bit fed up and TIRED especially when I look out the window and see the clothes on the line and know I have to go and get them off, fold them and iron the bloody things......Ohhhhhhhhhh...........did I say that!

and of course at the end of the day when all I want to do is

I have to get ready and..............

Hopefully I think the more modern woman thinks this way............................

though I did come across this one........

so it's still going on......

Sometimes I just want to..................

Anyway onto other things.....

I've done a couple of things in the last fortnight...

A purple pair of slippers just for my toes!

and I finished my Mum's Scarf for Mother's Day...

and I've started a Knitty/Crochet thingy which will no doubt evolve into something or other.........don't ask me what..............it will all become clear eventually. Maybe it will just be a thing that I love doing!

Now I'm off to read a book .................. have at least a dozen that I want to read from the Library!

Eggs on toast for tea cause I had a bang up huge lunch with my Mum and Dad and friends.............excellent........but I'm stuffed to the gills.

Orange Fibre Forum Continued!

2008-04-28T08:36:00.054+10:00

The continuum...........from Orange. I'm still dressed up in my gladrags

Came across this magnificent creature and I have decided if I was gonna be a chook this is the ONE! Not only magnificent but a teapot to boot!

Now back to Orange.
I found a lovely pond in the park where

I found food ..............so that was handy! Just had to dip in a paw and I was satisfied.

Lots of lovely trees to climb.......and scratch on!

And autum leaves to wander through and kick up under my paws!

and the odd bird to chase.....................

Our Illustrious leader, Sandra Meech, kept us busy and out of trouble the whole week - well at least when we were in class................

This is a progression of things we did..........1st up my sketch book drying!

Then Samples of Design and Composition we did with torn up photocopies of our theme plus additions......

We then moved onto stitching samples...keep in mind that these are still works in progress...

This one is entirely done from paper.......... and is inspired by a segment of a pic from the artist Hundertwasser..........whom I adore!

And these are a conglomermation of our visual workbooks...we were busy little bees the whole week!

Of course the Party went on.................................as if you are wondering the new orange was green................

This is the shoe making group......and somehow the one in the green pj's who shouldn't have been there joined in................

And a party wouldn't be a party without a bride who was looking either shocked or coy!

Stunning or stunned.......couldn't quite decide!

Ann couldn't work out if they were her glasses or her bra! Last time I saw them they were on her face.......but she seems to be questioning the idea!

And these two could not just stay away from the band. Talk about a couple of groupies........and in their pj's to boot!

A butterfly? or a bee? It's the stripes that make me wonder!

And the leader of the whole mob treading the lights fantastic.............in her Egyptian outfit with me mate, Maitland #1.

And then there were

They'd just had enough!

And that was that!

Raining Cats & Dogs and Crocheted Mittens

2008-04-24T17:31:00.020+10:00

What bloody miserable weather since I got home from Orange.

And I hate getting wet!

It's been

Well truly.........it's the dog's fault...........

EXTREME WARNING: Close your eyes if the next pic is too horrendous for you!

I have to be very careful when I go to work (yes, I do work!) because this

can happen.
I know it's a horrid pic but the reality is that people should be very careful when driving and cats should be very careful when crossing roads when it's raining.

That why I wear a

I got the idea from the

Anyway, the rain..it's not an exciting storm

No, not on yer nelly...it's just plain bloody big drops of water falling out of a grey sky...

and making the roads really dangerous which is why the advice above........about the yellow stuff and all.

Anyway it's good crochet weather so she's been making mittens....not for

mind you! Oh no.............they barely get a look in! She's made them for herself!

Though it is quite possible that she will give the black one's to her youngest kitten! But we will see how generous she is feeling!

She's a bit like the mother cat in this little ditty...she's a tad pedantic! But, of course, that is entirely from a cat's view....

Three little kittens,

They lost their mittens,

And they began to cry,

Oh, mother dear,

We sadly fear

Our mittens we have lost.

What! Lost your mittens

You naughty kittens!

Then you shall have no pie.

Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.

You shall have no pie!

The three little kittens,

They found their mittens,

And they began to cry,

Oh, mother dear,

See here, see here,

Our mittens we have found.

What! Found your mittens,

You darling kittens!

Then you shall have some pie.

Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.

You shall have some pie.

The three little kittens,

Put on their mittens,

And soon ate up the pie;

Oh, mother dear,We greatly fear

Our mittens we have soiled.

What! Soiled your mittens,You naughty kittens!

Then they began to sigh,

Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.

They began to sigh.

The three little kittens,

They washed their mittens,

And hung them out to dry;

Oh mother dear,

Look here, look here,

Our mittens we have washed.

What! Washed your mittens,

You're such good kittens.

I smell a

close by!

Hush! Hush! Hush! Hush!Hush! Hush! Hush!

I smell a rat close by.

You can stop singing now!

And I will have to come inside after chasing the rats

and just wait for a sunny day to appear miraculously out of the blue!

To Orange and Back & The Fivilous Fantasy Necklace in the New Orange

2008-04-21T09:46:00.040+10:00

She's been and enjoyed and returned.....

to and from the Orange Fibre Forum in NSW, Australia.
The packing was the big nighmare as you can see.
I've always threatened to get in someone's suitcase........but unfortunately they've never let me stay.
Cat's don't really like to travel so I figured if I sat in the bag and also slept there she wouldn't go!

No such luck.........she kept on packing
and packing
and packing........
The class list was a mile long but it managed to somehow fit it all in - three bags full including the
And at the last minute when she should have been finishing the packing and writing a newsletter she decided to sit down and make a FRIVILOUS FANTASY NECKLACE IN THE NEW ORANGE for Orange in the Autumn. Honestly that girl has too much Irish in her!

I was gonna say that she took everything bar the ironing board but if you take a sneaky peak next to her bed you will notice....................

Also note the tidiness of the cupboards.

Her mate, Rob, was not quite so tidy!

She brought all her friends......

chooks and chooks and chooks

plus lots of crazy outfits to wear everyday.......

probably got something to do with being
blonde.
Morning #1 - Rob as the Giant Goldfish gently singing Rise & Shine............

Cups of tea and coffee for

and

(Who shall remain anonymous .................)
Day #2 Rob as Gold Finger lustily singing Gold Finger

Day #3 Rob as Somewhere over the Rainbow warbling Somewhere over the Rainbow!

Morning coffee and teas for these two

who were never up with the birds........

hence the chicken slippers! We all know that chooks get up at dawn.
Day #4 Rob as Hey Big Spender........loudly singing the same...........

On day #5 I was too tired to get up and photograph her as Bring in the Clowns.......but obviously the two in the bed had arisen early and were not impressed! Even though they are smiling!

What else did we get up to?
Well one night a very

entertained us at dinner..............
and I also noticed a bogong moth learning to read

We did get out to the vineyards - don't be fooled........this was after the tastings!

and the vineyards are gorgeous

Of course the finale was the party where we

Tomorrow I'll show ya what I did!
but til then I have to go and

Warm Arms Denim Jacket and a New Quilt!

2008-04-07T18:28:00.023+10:00

Another busy week

and now I can relax

because

It's done..........

it's finished...........

and it's wearable!

And I love it...........

it's warm,

it's cozy

and

best of all -

it fits!

And I also finished a quilt called SunRise...........

Idea from Ricky Timms and the Fibonacci sequence.

Lots of fun to make because it

involved

a lot of chopping into fabric - which I love

......and NO pattern.

Now I just have to pack for the Orange Fibre Forum next week!
Can't wait.

At least I have a theme for the workshop I am doing with Sandra Meech

I'm going to work with

and

More on all of this in later blogs!

They actually look quite tasty

but

while I'm at the Forum

I'm gonna go get a

so I don't obssess about them

and then get ready to

Now onto more serious matters!

I was gonna leave George Bush alone as I've given him a bit of a bashing the last few posts and then I came across this shocking pic of what he does to cats and so I can't keep quite, can I?

That's murder in my books! I'm outraged!

But Kevin is still my man..........ah..........i can see the resemblance!

Maybe George was trying to eat him!
Now there's a dangerous thought.

Ah Kevin

Oh and another thing I came across this week..........

Remember the swan doiley's our Nana's used to

Crochet

and

Well this is the latest version..............

It also looks quite tasty.

Maybe I'm hungry and should go eat

Miaou! Chiou!

The Scribble Lace Wrap that Growed & Growed and other stuff as per usual!

2008-04-01T16:15:00.024+11:00

Well Guess What day it is?

Yes I know you know....

it's the Day

when people do all

strange things which

I think are pretty cool

and can be very funny...

Strange signs appear around the country side:

Now this one should be in Greece because they eat a lot of

which creates the real thing.....not the

Even very important people get involved:

It's a joke.......Kevin.

We know it's the wrong flag.
We know you won't sell us up the river!

Not like Little Johnny wanted to do......

Well, I wonder why it would be
his favourite day?
Ah, yes...

April Fools Day for a Fool!

and in Greece a real joke!
We all know that they really ride around in

And of course, the Brits have to have the last

word on everything.......well they think they do

However on my day I've been busy knitting.....
I've knitted and knitted and knitted and finally finished

the

Scribble Lace Wrap that

Growed and

Growed.

For directions on how to do it -

go buy your own

Unexpected Knitting book

by Debbie New!

It's bloody fantastic.

Just as well I'm not easily scared!

The Blue Beer Bottle Holder and other things!

2008-03-29T18:16:00.013+11:00

Today I'm feeling particularly happy because a certain

has taken off for another year to be forgotten until 2009.
Except, of course, for the

cause they celebrate Easter in April.

I got a wonderful photo from my daughter, Stella
(who lives in Greece and is a very important person!)
of her and my granddaughter, Dimi

I am amazed at how quickly Stella's hair has gone grey! Must be the kids or is the pirate girl that is sitting her lap that's got her worried.

Now this person is the Greek Viking Queen of lace Knitting.........
no other than the great
Brouhaha
http://www.brouhahaknits.blogspot.com/
I find her hat arrangement most attractive!

I also found this on the net............and whilst I'm not totally opposed to Christianity (only the horrid fundamental claptrap that some go in for!)........... I could not resist posting this. I think I just have a very warped sense of humour.

Now onto a lighter note........................
I've finished my Frivilous Fantasy Competition Entry for a group called Freeformations on Ravelry.
It's called a Blue Beer Bottle Holder and had to fill the requirement of having 'b' in the item. So it's blue, it has beads and bobbles, it has frenchknitted Braid, it has bullion stitches in it and it's holding a Bottle of Beer.

The scribble lace is coming along nicely as well....................I am determined to keep knitting until I finish the pink ball of yarn. It was going to be a curtain but I think it's gonna be a wrap now.

Oh and I can't resist...........................................

"" George W Bush has backed Kevin Rudd's decision to withdraw combat troops from Iraq. In a strong rebuke to the Howard government notion that the US-Australia relationship was contingent on the close personal friendship between Mr Bush and John Howard, the US president has warmly received new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the White House.""

Now does Georgie look warmly happy or does he look warmly happy! The only person smiling is Kevin! Maybe Kevin wasn't as obliging as our little Johnnie and that's why George is looking so perplexed! Or could it be that George is waving goodbye to us.........................hasten the DAY!

See.............I have a new hairstyle too!

The Long & Short Bag AKA The Warm Arms Bag

2008-03-25T17:01:00.024+11:00

thank goddess it's over

the

has been ........left the loot

and gone to visit more important people like

She got flowers instead of an

(This has been saved for the Greek Easter - for an important person in Greece!)
and the

who was trying to find him - but he was flaked out on a Mountain in Italy

And of course to the most important person in the entire world

Special Easter Hugs all round!

OHHHHH so cute!

And of course Mr Easter Bunny was full of complaints to his buddy

Well........they both better get over it cause they have to visit Greece next month............

Anyway aside from the bunny and egg and chickens and stuff I know the real meaning of Easter.....It was when that cool cat Jesus got himself done in and

and managed to get himself reconnected again after three days of looking!

I did do some very important resurrecting stuff at Easter.
I have resurrected the Warms Arms project and turned it into a bag.

Short for my crochet

and Long for my knitting

and now I am onto knitting my other sock

for

PRAYING FEET...............

Ya see I knows lots of stuff about everything......................

Buttons and My Studio and Easter Greetings!

2008-03-22T10:57:00.028+11:00

Well I got over my hissy fit!

And I think I've found the balance again TO INNER PEACE....

After much thought and scratching around in my

It's as tidy as it's gonna get for those of you who care to read this and are finicky about tidiness. I can find exactly what I'm looking for...............so DON'T touch or move anything!

I found a tin of

that I had scrounched from Uni days......knowing that I would eventually find a use for them.

Now I just had to cover up that face.

Orginially I thought it was a picture of

then I read the writing and realised he was not associated with Chiropractory and figured it must be someone else.

Even so the pics are remarkably similar.

I found some yarn from my stash

There's more in the house!
And this is what happened

I just love

playing with

yarns

Then I fiddled and diddled with the old crochet hooks and

Oh! And while I'm at it I thought you might like to look inside my studio....................

Welcome and enter - keep in mind it's a WORKING studio.................

I should mention that the purple pot was my Nana's chamber pot that was kept under her bed for those nighttime emergencies. Now it's used to keep all my embroidery cut off threads that I will use some day in something.

And also it's Easter.......................

And I'm thinking of the Easter eggs tomorrow..............

WARNING:

Cover your eyes if you are too conservative!

Now I have finally found out how the darn things are made (the easter egss!).

It is totally amazing what you can find on the WWW!

Anyway if you managed to get past THE PORN and are having a lovely time eating the choccies don't worry about Monday..............all that weight gain is just a false reading

Have a great Easter........have a great week..........have a great year!

Now I'm Really Cranky!

2008-03-19T13:04:00.008+11:00

Today I'm really cranky.....and about to have a huge hissy fit..................

Just been reading the Sydney Morning Herald online..............

and

noticed:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/gods-cure-for-gays-lost-in-sin/2008/03/18/1205602385236.html

This is Sy Rogers.........who is 'cured' from gayness. He is a guest speaker at Hillsong conference 2008 in Sydney..........and I think I just saw a

fly right past him!
Now.................can that be..........................that's like asking if the

is Catholic?

My goddess what bloody century do these creepy crawlies in a place called Hillsong belong to?

Dare I mention....Hillsong has imported him from the USA....no doubt one of those rootin' tootin' bible bashing giveyalifetojesus places...

I might add he some sort of professor without doing the time.....................or the degrees............ugly!

Hmmmmph!

And

I'm

not

even

Gay!

I'm

longer

Christian -

thank goddess for That!

This is a mandala I drew dedicated to all those wonderful gay people I have met - especially my beautiful gay daughter...........who I wouldn't have any other way!

She ROCKS!

The Sparkle Sisters by Susie Bowring-Miller 2007

the ODE to MATH Cushion

2008-03-17T10:10:00.025+11:00

I've been knitting wildly for a month making
a Conglomeration Caper Cushion
commonly known as
CCC.
It's a free pattern from the
http://www.woollythoughts.com site
and I also have books called
Woolly Thoughts
and
No-Pattern Knits
by Pat Ashforth and Steve Plummer.

I started off with a bit of a shopping spree

where I bought

All Australian Wool.............and very yummy. 8 ply!

So..... I started with full instructions and enough determination to kill a

Anyway I did the first square perfectly:

see the RED square..

then the next bit

and the next bit

and I noticed that it was starting to wobble crazily..............

and I realised that it wasn't matching the pattern.

It was going all bumpy and out of shape........

Could it be that I had NOT read the instructions correctly?

or did I even read the instructions?

Or did I just look at the picture.....

I really started to think that.......................

Then I realised that what I really had to do was

No.........no.............no!
Not look at the fish..........but see the BIG Picture!

So after peering at it for a couple of hours
and prodding
and pulling
and poking
and realising that it would not explode before my very eyes...

I quickly

IT into some sort of shape
and kinda got it all under control
and

NoT EXACTLY A SQUARE.......but some sort of Mathematical Shape.

So the Saga of the Ode to Math Cushion is over...........but wait............now my daughter (who got it for her birthday) want to learn how to knit...................

from

in disguise!

Chooks and Mum's Scarf as well as the CCC

2008-03-12T15:37:00.046+11:00

Every day I get online with my daughter in Greece and she always asks:

"What's up Chookie?"

Personally I think she has got me mixed up with the wrong species......however.............I play along with her!

Now If I was gonna be a chook this is what I would have to look like...............with the red hair and all!

INFORMATION: Chook is slang for Australian hens!

Seeing that she thinks I am a chook (as do the other two kids - they are adults I think at this stage!) I thought I should look at the stuff about caring for chooks and their diet and their housing and see if I am being looked after correctly.

Caring for Chooks.

Diet (filthy word!)
Layer pellets or crumble should be available at all times and should make up the majority of the diet.
My Goddess..............I don't need to lay anymore............I've been there and done that............and produced................... so I don't need the pellets and grits. Though I am now wondering about the ears.........Chooks don't have ears like that! Only ................. have them. Guess!

Fresh veggies are good for variety. So are pasta, rice, toast, eggs, mashed potato, bones and other meats.

Phew! Just as well...........cause I like all the above. But NOT bones!

Seed, wheat and corn should be fed as a treat and should not form the majority of the diet.
Good because I love

and

Never feed chocolate, coffee, avocado or rhubarb, as they are toxic to our feathered friends.

Oh Pooh! All my favourites.....................oh bum,pooh!

How crazy are Cadbury's (My favourite chocolate).............if chocolate is not good for chooks how the heck do they think the chook lays Creme Eggs!

and I think strange things happen to the children.

Birds have no teeth and by swallowing small stones, and other hard objects, use these within their gizzard to grind down their food. Therefore, they must be provided with a supply of grit for this purpose.
Oh dear........well I have most of my teeth............. in one way or another!

so I guess I can by pass the the small stones...........and other hard objects - I wonder what they would be. And I'll pass on the grit.

They must have access to clean water.
Absolutely as well as

Oh no...............that's related to:

which is banned.................GRRRR!

Put the food and water bowls in a place where your bird cannot poop in them.
Beware chickens tend to “poo” a lot. So be careful if you like to walk around without shoes!

I'm not in that habit.................I'm very clean and tidy. I have an appropriate little room for the pooping!

Allow the birds out daily to "scratch" and forage.
I'm always shopping and scratching around for bargains.

Keep in mind it's an old photo.......it's when I had the kids! Now I go alone........YAY!

They will help to keep the lawn down, and eat the insects they find in the grass. The more grass they eat, the yellower their egg yolks will be.
I don't have grass at my house............and I no longer lay eggs. I certainly don't eat insects..........and why would anyone want to know how yellow the yolk is unless......................

SOB! It could have been...............................

A chook shed should provide:
Protection from the weather and predators like dogs and foxes. Don’t forget that foxes can dig.
Good goddess..................How odd! I thought this was the problem.

Feeding and watering facilities.

A safe place to lay eggs and hatch chickens.

Pass! Been there and done that and don't intend to do it again.

A roosting area with Perches, which are off the ground, for older chooks to sleep on .

Doesn't look too comfortable to me so I'll just stick to my home via Google Earth:

Now two thing that bugs me...........................

1. the idea that chooks can lay any size egg - and that is why they get lots of grits and horrid things............to produce bigger eggs..........well I disagree as you will note from the caption below:

2. The ridiculous idea that rabbits also lay eggs....

tricked ya.............I knew it was a cat dressed up as a rabbit...........but the point is...............chooks lay eggs. Not bloody cats or rabbits...........which is why the Easter Rabbit is purely a myth!

So what have I been doing other than pondering Chooks..............well:

Mum's scarf is coming along nicely.............nearly halfway there and will be ready just in time for Mother's Day.

The CCC Cushion from Woolly Thoughts on Ravelry is also progressing.................I made a mistake but heck...............I'm gonna wing it and hope for the best

And I found my Scribble Lace Scarf that I knitted in Debbie New's class (Unexpected Knitting) in 2006.

So that's it from:

WHO MOST DEFINITELY IS NOT A CHOOK AND WOULD NOT EVEN DREAM OF DRESSING UP AS A CHOOK OR A RABBIT!

A Shell

2008-03-10T16:39:00.008+11:00

Yesterday I knitted a shell....................well really a knitted form that looks like a shell.

I didn't actually go to the beach and get a shell and then break it up and knit it. DUH!

I've been challenged by the knitting needles of late because:

I figure that what I can do in crochet I can do in knitting.

Knitting is straight with all the stitches on a needle (or two or three or four or five.......) whereas with crochet it's only one stitch on the hook.

I want to see if I can get things to curl and bulge and recede with knitting just like I can with crochet.

So I made a shell.

The most amazing thing is that I did not frog anything. The frog, I think from the noise going on was very sad.

I did finish it off with crochet but that's only the trim and the circular end bit of the inside of the shell............so the stuffing is covered.

But you could call it a hidden shell animal!

And I might add there is NO pattern.

I don't do patterns because I only want to make things once. Too many things to play with rather than repeat repeat repeat.........now that is a ripping frog noise too!

So I don't want to rip out rip out rip out and I don't want to repeat.....repeat......repeat.........

It's over! The stole is dead! Two new PROJECTS HAVE BEGUN!

2008-02-23T18:09:00.018+11:00

I discovered that if I was going to continue knitting the STOLE I would end up

So I just

IT!

Now I am very

Also NOTE that not only am I happy but the FROG is happy too!

I was sooooooooooooooooo tired of knitting, reading the pattern, pulling out the stitches..............some bloody freaky journey...........one that I had to get off in exhaustion.................

Now I have started knitting (with all the bloody yarn I bought for the Stole) a scarf for my Mum. I can remember how to do feather and fan (which is the pattern) without a book or a pattern...............just my style.

and it is growing without any heartache on my part..........just the way I like it. And I've added some beads which is FUN! FUN! FUN!

And I have taken inspiration from PaT Ashforth and Steve Plummer after deciding that I was a genius (just not discovered!) and can kkkkkkkkknit without pppppppppatterns

I visited the LYS and picked up these

and dug out my favourite circular that I bought in Connecticut when I visited in 2005........and I can't remember the brand name because I want more of them. I love the tips............just wonderful to knit with.

I might even get the opportunity to

if our summer holds up.............so far rain, rain and more rain.

I could do with a bit of sun and Pat and Steve's books might inspire me to greater heights.

My Nana Quilt - it only took 10 years from start to finish!

2008-02-12T09:28:00.022+11:00

Ten years or more in the making.

To tell the truth I forgot that I had started it.
And then I rediscovered it hidden in an unpacked box of goodies (from a house move in 2000) when I moved into my studio and then and there I decided to finish it.
It consists of my darling Nana's crocheted hope chest doiley's that would be around 90 -100 years old, my aunt's bits and pieces of lace and ribbon, and my own fabrics and lace collected over the years .

This is a photo of My Nana and Pop on their wedding day in 1919.

I have appliqued and machine embroidered items that I think signify some of the things my Nana loved in life.

The quilt fits the top of my queen size bed and consists of 13 block onpoint plus half blocks.

I joined it with a brownish cotton representing the seemingly plainness of my nana's life.

The blocks represent her rich inner life.

Well that sounds good anyway and I'm pretty sure it's true! LOL!
Anyway - ta..................da!

Unbelievable...........I have prevailed! The continuing saga of the SOTSii!

2008-02-11T18:56:00.000+11:00

Today I am

Hint #2 is finished

I was also thinking it was the mice that were disturbing me............they really do my head in at times.

I was thinking that I might have a

put on my chest.................to go with the

Sometimes I think I would like to do something simple like:

or drive myself crazy with something like:

However at the moment I will just get on and dance and knit hint #3

Not happy with the lace knitting and the BIG QUESTION!!!!! The saga of SOTSii

2008-02-05T18:24:00.000+11:00

I'm still knitting the blasted lace and I'm

This is how I look when I'm knitting..............

And it's not a good look.........very FRAZZLED.

I am all organised.......................

I start off looking like this

I have the

and a

and the

I've put in many

(LIFELINES!!!!!!!!!!!!! that are supposed to save you!)

and I bought special lace needle which is fantastic...................

I have gorgeous yarn which is 50% silk and 50% New Zealand wool which knits up beautifully.

but I am still hearing that blasted croaking sound from the

I don't know why he looks so damned happy...................Probably because he is famous and doesn't give a damn..............

I will have to go and read my

and breath........................

Otherwise I think I'm going to turn into an extremely fat relaxed cat and just go and lay under a tree and play with the yarn.

I really do think that I should go sit under a tree because I thought I had it sorted last night and ended up pulling out six more bloody rows. GRRR!

This animal is testing my patience to the ultimate limit!

It is sitting on the floor where I threw it in disgust!

What to do?

Do I continue on with struggle? Do I unpull and make up into lots of socks.....which incidently I can knit very easily. Even with complicated patterns.
I was reading the latest Interweave Knitting magazine and noted a PERSON has an alter ego when she knits.
Maybe I should have an alter ego.................WENDY? Where are you............
Now this is abject ramblings of an seemingly sane person out in society.............but in the depth of my humble abode with the knitted animal sitting on the floor I have turned into some type of feral creature counting stitches over and over again...........knowing that numbers and I have never bonded let alone become friends.
Perhaps I will have a brain wave and figure it out like a flash of lightening from the heavens.

A fun quilt

2008-02-05T18:18:00.001+11:00

A fun little quilt to make.

Got the instructions from a Calendar that My youngest daughter, Anita, gave me for Xmas 2007.

It's supposed to be a block per day but............I'm not doing that.

I have too many other projects that I want to do.............

I really enjoyed making it even though it's traditional piecing and quilting.

FUN! FUN! FUN!

The P & P Bag

2008-02-05T18:05:00.000+11:00

New bag hot off the hook!
This one is for daughter, Stella and is going all the way from Australia to Greece to live.
Her favourite colours are pink and purple with black.
So
One side of the bag is done with purple yarn and pink surface crochet
and
The other side is done with pink yarn with purple surface crochet
and
then
it is all crocheted together with black yarn.
And I like it.

I'm Happy! Happy! Happy! The sage of SOTSii

2008-01-28T22:12:00.001+11:00

Well............I am happy because

I managed to get out of an awful tangle and quiten the

that sits at the end of each row of knitting!

I ate two

and sat quietly in my kitchen because this was

Then when

this is what happened

and now I have to do Hint#2.

My Little Purple Pot

2008-01-25T13:30:00.000+11:00

Why would I make a little Purple Pot?

To put my ball of wool in...............duh!!!!!!!

What do you need to make a little purple pot................

You need 7 of these:

1 of these:

2 of these:

1 of these:

Then you take these

and use this

and you might come up with this..............................aha!

You thought I was gonna tell you, didn't you!

After you have thought about it you might look like this!

Or you may figure it out!

Good luck!

I'm going crossed eyed - The beginning of the Saga of SOTSii!

2008-01-24T07:44:00.000+11:00

I am going crossed eyed knitting! That insect is the animal that appears on the end of my nose (really sitting on two knitting needles!)

The project is a lace stole! Which I can't show because it is a secret thing...........though I will put a pic of the Hint 1 when I finish it! GRRRRRR!

Why have I decided to knit it...........you may well ask?

I can't answer that because I can't remember........and now I have spent $$$$$$ on yarn to make it I feel compelled.

The problem is the

Looks kinda cute, doesn't he! Well he's not. Makes a lot of noise..........and I have to pull out so many stitches because it interrupts my train of thought in reading the graph.

The Wicked Witch from the West and her headlight

2008-01-21T10:26:00.000+11:00

The best thing since sliced bread.

Light is on forehead.

No other lights need be on in room.......so saving energy.

Light shines directly on work.

Can leave the house unlit and go to fridge to get supplies to eat and drink following light from forehead.

Could have something to do with 'the mystical, magical, elusive third eye'.

Otherwise it's a bike light but since I do not ride a bike I had to think sideways. I can only ride a bike (once I get it balanced) in a straight line................

Light is adjustable.

Light also has a red element - for what I have no idea other than giving someone an awful fright.

Pink Fragments

2008-01-14T17:19:00.000+11:00

I've crocheted with a little knitting
seven pink fragments for a project for
Breast Cancer Research for
FreeFormation
http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/freeformation/

It's been ages since I've done anything like this and it really was a whole lot of fun. Nothing fancy in the stitches............it's the yarns that have done the work.

Spirituality in Australia

2008-01-09T15:09:00.000+11:00

The wall hanging is complete..........

Great fun to make and also a great meditation piece. I certainly had lots of little journeys in my head while I was making it. I haven't been to Uluru (but the planning stages for a trip in 2009 are in progress) but I have seen a lot of our fantastic outback.

The colours are simply amazing and I am hoping that I got them somewhere near they needed to be.

The birds are from the Mignalli collection of machine embroideries..........and they are just super excellent.

Geisha with Fans

2008-01-09T15:01:00.000+11:00

Been busy pushing this wallhanging

"Geisha with Fans" to completion. I've made it for myself but it will be hanging in the Janome Sewing Machine and Quilting shop called SEW CITY I work for.

I loved making it but the satin stitch (which is what I used for applique) was slightly tedious.

However I enjoy the game of deciding what line goes down first. Bit like a puzzle.

My Summer Purse or something like that!

2008-01-08T16:02:00.001+11:00

I made this purse from a plastic mesh form that I purchased in the UK in 2005. I've been working on it for about 12 months and all the crochet is finished. Now it's down to the beading which is taking FOREVER! Sigh! It is a greedy little thing because it screams loudly for more and more beads and I get sick of it so I put it away and then drag it out again to give it another fix.

The Orange Necklace for Orange Fibre Forum

2008-01-08T15:57:00.000+11:00

I made an orange crocheted necklace to wear to the Fibre Forum in Orange this year.........but I have since found out that the new orange is green so I am going to have to make a green one! Sigh!

Sunday Knitting on WarmArms

2008-01-06T19:30:00.000+11:00

It's
growing
and
growing.
I unpicked quite a bit this week
as it was widening too quickly
due to my keeness of adding stitches.
Plus I got some new yarn yesterday. ...........and that has been fun to play with today.
Another inch or two and she'll be ready for the jacket.
Then I have to knit another sleeve but I'm hoping it will go like a breeze.
Fingers crossed.

Warm Arms

2008-01-02T08:07:00.000+11:00

Bought a denim vest from the 'Salvos' and have removed the sleeves so............
now I am knitting up two (well, it has to be two as I have two arms) sleeves to insert.
This is sleeve no 1.
Still a ways to go with it.
I have all the balls of yarns (stuff I have left over from other projects, odd balls that I've liked and bought, yarn I've dyed myself) in a big bag and I just dip and knit.
Lots of fun and I don't get bored.
I just have to remember what I did increasewise for the second sleeve!

A New Quilted Wall Hanging

2007-12-14T14:33:00.000+11:00

This one is taking time.

It is supposed to represent spirituality in Australia - taking the place of the traditional advent things that happen in church which is a bit of a pain because for the life of me I can't see how something that happened (presumably......if you believe all that stuff) has anything to do with me today.

Especially since it was on a different continent, different culture, different bloody everything if you ask me......which you probably aren't......if you are reading this.

Rather than go with the crib and the family and stuff I decided to paint a background and put 'things' that represent Australia on it starting with Uluru. It is in the heart of Australia........is a sacred place for the desert Aborigines and has become an icon to both indiginous people and the imported variety as well (of which I am one!).

The burnt tree stump with new growth I think is self explanatory. All the old ideas, old beliefs, old behaviours, old prejudices that do not support me in having a full life have to go so new life can spring forth. We see this so often with our forest here.......they are charred to a crisp one summer and then a wildly growing in the next spring. Some plants here cannot germinate until a fire goes through.

I'm getting ready stitch the next section which will be about water and grief and sadness at Xmas.

Irish Crochet Motifs

2007-12-14T14:20:00.000+11:00

I remembered I had done these over a year ago......put them up on a blog and forgot about them.

So seeing this is about fibre and stuff I thought I'd add them on here..........

I was all enthusiastic about IC for a while there and then lost the serge or urge or whatever it is that drives you.

I would like to do more but it takes ages and ages and ages.

However it is an very interesting form of crochet to do.

I might just do it on large hooks!

LOL!

It's the teensy weensy ones that drive me nuts.

Textured Crochet by Helen Jordan 2007

2007-12-14T14:10:00.000+11:00

I got a new book from Amazon this week:

Textured Crochet: Stitch collection - more than 70 designs with easy to follow charts by Helen Jordan from Yorkshire in the UK.

http://www.threadoflife.co.uk

It is a fantastic little book and very very easy to use. Diagrams and pics are excellent.

The Bag of Spirals

2007-12-14T13:53:00.000+11:00

The bag of spirals just came about after being inspired by Lisa off Ravelry. This is her blog: http://www.stringamajig.blogspot.com/ .

It took me about 3 days to make...........and took me through my little journey of having my final wisdom tooth removed. I must say that the dentist had the hands of an angel but the aftermath has been pretty horrid. First time I have cleaned my teeth with toothpaste after two days..........don't come too close! Otherwise baby food, jelly, soft noodles and salt and water mouth washes. Sigh! And it would have to be at Xmas!

I thought her pillow was fantastic so decided I would make a green bag ready for the Orange Fibre Forum in 2008.

www.ggcreations.com.au/tafta/forums.html

The Scrubby Warshcloth

2007-11-29T13:34:00.001+11:00

This little number which is supposed to be a warshcloth came out of nowhere.

I wouldn't use it to wash up the plates or myself for that matter.

I'll probably just use it in something else.....but what?

Bit of a joke really........but fun squaring off the freeform.

Best Friends

2007-11-28T10:14:00.000+11:00

Lots of hand embroidery on this one

from a Bronwyn Hayes book.

Made it in red and purple because they were my favourite colours that year!

Black white with some red

2007-11-28T10:11:00.000+11:00

One of my first quilts made in 2006.

Sorbet Sunrise 2007

2007-11-28T09:58:00.000+11:00

Things take time.

I took 3 years to make this wallhanging.

From New York Beauties.

I really enjoyed it.

Loved working out the colours in the fabrics.

Kimono 1001

2007-11-28T09:55:00.000+11:00

Made

Kimono 1001 for the Novocastrian Quilt Exhibition in 2007.

Made it in a week........from start to finish. Sore fingers because beads are sewn on at every 1" over the red fabric.

My little Japanese Bag

2007-11-28T09:52:00.000+11:00

When I was making the Geisha Goddess Wallhanging I had 19 hexagons left over so I made this little bag.

Geisha Goddesses Quilted Wallhanging

2007-11-28T09:47:00.000+11:00

I've been quilting over the last couple of years.

I loved making this......

It was a panel that I appliqued with Japanese fabrics.

I've just started another similar wallhanging of a single Geisha - and will put pics of progress up as soon as I get the camera out.

We are getting more and more bonded -me and the camera, ie.

Jenny Dowde's Books

2007-11-28T09:40:00.000+11:00

My Pal, Jenny Dowde has had three fantastic books published on Freeform Knitting and Crochet. Surface Works is just hot off the Press. FANbloodyTASTIC Jen! You GO Girl!

Toys

2007-11-28T09:32:00.000+11:00

2002 must have been a very productive year for me because I seemed to make lots of things. Probably because it was my last year in Fine Arts at Uni.

Toys......toys.......toys................cut up and reconstructed. Probably some deep angst or something like that. Very weird.......but great talking points.

Hundertwasser Rug

2007-11-28T09:23:00.000+11:00

Made this one when I was just starting to do Freeform Crochet in 2001. It was great fun to do.........learned lots of stitches and patterns. Just 'scrumbles' all crocheted together and then sewn onto a backing.

It sits drapped over the back of a chair in my loungeroom. I really want to do some more work on it............take the backing off and and make it more stable with crochet.

Healing Rug

2007-11-28T08:54:00.000+11:00

I made my rug throughout 2006 and 2007. I bought most of the yarn in the USA in 2005 and came home from my visit there to a major health crisis within my family.

I wasn't feeling terribly creative but wanted to have something in my hands to do........and so the rug. No pattern............so I didn't have to fiddle with books. Any size needles. And no order in the yarn or colour composition. Really I just simply threw it together.

I don't think the pic does it justice..............however the camera and I are still in bonding mode.

One thing I did love when I was making it ...............during our cooler months I could sit under and knit.

I really helped with the problems............and quite amazingly as the health problem was resolved the rug finished!

Odds 'n Sods Scarf

2007-11-28T08:46:00.000+11:00

I knitted my scarf on circular needles making a tube.
It was really fun to make because I just grabbed yarns out of my yarn stash.......popped them all in a bag and whatever I pulled out I had to knit. Just a little rule!
And I do wear it. It's really long so wraps and wraps around my neck and looks great with a plain sweater.

The Home Spun Bag

2007-11-28T08:38:00.000+11:00

I made this one in 2006. All the yarns are home spun and were sent to me by from the USA and the UK in a Yarn Exchange.
I loved making it and enjoy using it as well.
It has a little silver sheep on the front that I bought in Connecticut, USA in 2005 when I was visiting.

My Dancing Goddesses

2007-11-28T08:21:00.000+11:00

I think I made these little goddesses in 2002 or 2003. Or it could have been over the two years. I had so much fun making them and I intend to make some more........but different shapes.

The Magical Wrap

2007-11-28T08:09:00.001+11:00

After closing down my homemade web page and then deciding to BLOG.....I have to upload my old pics.

This is my magical wrap that I made in 2004 or was it 2003. Well it was made sometime this century! Can't remember.

Freeform Crochet. Bugger to make.

I do wear it.

Other than that is hangs on my loungeroom wall.

The Pretty in Pink Bagaki

2007-11-26T17:51:00.000+11:00

This is my Pretty in Pink bagaki.

It started as a blue plastic bag that I bought for $1 at an Op Shop.

I have covered with freeformed crochet.

Its bit cross gendered because the bag originally was blue (for boys?????) and is now pink (for girls?????)

Bit tongue in cheek to be honest.

It's going to my granddaughter..........if I can bear to part with it.

Me and My Name Tag

2007-11-15T13:26:00.000+11:00

Well, I like my name tag.

It is handy for those forgetful moments when the fizziness overtakes and frivolatry lets loose.

But sometimes I forget to wear it when I should.....but really I don't forget who I am.

This is about the 5th blog that I have started, resolved to write every so often and then forget.

Maybe if I wear my name tag I won't forget to write.