muppinstuff

another lovely craft weekend

Over the last week life has quite literally, been a pain in the arse. No doubt at some point I will go into far too much detail about that and the surgery I am going to have this Thursday which promises to be an even bigger pain in the arse, but hopefully will cure aforesaid pain. Suffice to say, when the surgeon offered me last Thursday as a possible date... I said, NOOOOOOOO, I can't miss out on Craft Weekend. I am nothing if not committed. Luckily, sitting down has not been a problem.

Anyway, enough about my bottom issues. Craft weekend was delightful. As always. The last week or two have been so insanely busy. I set myself a huge amount of work and put far too much pressure and stress on myself and those around me. So for me, this weekend was all about relaxing, not rushing and just being. One thing that really helped was not driving, thanks to Di who came and picked me up and Suse who drove me home. It really is an absolute luxury to be driven and I really appreciated it this time. So thank you both. 

1. view out the front yard, 2. lichen and shadow, 3. dew and mist, 4. daffodil, 5. the shot through the window of the studio in the evening, 6. tea and snack time, 7. lana and bruce, 8. tree shadows on green grass, 9. my new knitting bag, 10. di making a sewing machine cover, 11. it was quite windy, 12. ellen, 13. blossom, 14. jill with some wool, 15. lichen, 16. catherine and suse, 17. brooch for grace, 18. the light coming in the window, 19. wool silk jumper, 20. ellen, suse and di, 21. looking at pictures of ellen's niece on the internet, 22. morning view, 23. lana's amazing toasted muesli with yoghurt and strawberries, 24. in my new green t-shirt (by suse), 25. cath and ellen behind the flowers, 26. moody spring skies, 27. di and lana knit before breakfast, 28. front of the studio, 29. new growth, 30. the corner bedroom

Arriving at Sewjourn is always fun, noticing seasonal changes in the garden and watching the house and studio take on the colour of the group for the weekend. Despite not rushing or being particularly focussed, I completed five finished items. A knitting bag which I totally didn't plan on making out of some vintage fabric samples from Sooz's grandmother in law and some linen from Di's stash. It has a high wonk factor, but the sight of my new knitting bag sitting on the couch, or hanging from the back of a chair with a new bamboo scarf project in it gives me little thrills of pleasure every time I walk past. Much classier than the Clegs bag. I also made a pair of pyjama pants (for hospital), a green t-shirt and brownish silk wool lace fabric jumper. Both out of fabric I have taken to craft weekends many times and both of which turned out pretty well. Although I think I should have changed the thread when I did the hems on the t-shirt and perhaps my machine really does need a service. Oh,and a flower brooch for Grace. Also unplanned and using a brooch finding from Sally-Rose and a couple of buttons I had with me for goodness knows what. Grace was thrilled to receive it and has worn it ever since. She also got a book about a teddy bear lost in the bush from the opshop and I bought G a record which turned out to be a bit of a find, so he was pleased too.

Meals as ever were fantastic. Another luxury. We had a fabulous lamb stew from Ellen on the friday night. The aroma made me think of my childhood in the best possible way. Then we had sticky date pudding with caramel sauce (which took me three goes to get right as it's been ten years since I did any sugar work and I couldn't find my sugar thermometer - recipe coming on eater next week maybe) from me which was pretty good even if I do say so myself. Breakfast was the most awesome homemade toasted muesli with yoghurt and strawberries from Lana. Lunch was two utterly delicious soups from Cath and Suse accompanied by sensational bread from the farmer's market. Then dinner was the most astonishing lamb roast stuffed with pinenuts and other delicious things with a tomatoey reduction sauce served with kipfler potatoes, baby beetroots and salad. Then we had this divine citrus fruit salad and I could not resist taking the last few pieces of grapefruit. Just perfect. Amazingly the next morning we we ready for brunch served by Di which was a caramlised onion and feta frittata and baked beans. Just delicious. Perhaps unsurprisingly we gave lunch a miss and snacked until just before leaving when we polished off the remaining frittata. Not only was all the food totally scrumptious, I hardly had to cook any of it and being one of the last to leave, I took home a few choice leftovers. Which we've been eating ever since.

Like always I feel so lucky and grateful that I get to do this, that G doesn't mind and encourages it even, that a place such as Sewjourn exists in a magic little space just on our doorstep and that I have this group of wonderful women to share it with.  I feel well refreshed. Thank you universe. 

this one time, at craft camp.....

Shortly after the last craft retreat, Suse posted and asked whether or not June was too soon for another weekend at Sewjourn. As it turned out the Queens's birthday weekend was free.  A three day crafting weekend?!?  I was keen but you know, we were pretty dubious that a) we could pull it off so close to other one and b) that there would be enough people who would consider leaving their families for three days. Well. Am I ever glad that Suse booked it. And as it turned out we had a full house. There was Alby, Stomper, Jenny and Eleanor who had never been on a craft weekend before. Alongside me and Suse, Suzie, Ellen and Leslie who have all experienced the delights of Sewjourn on other occasions. It was lovely showing the newies around Sewjourn and and watching them realise how good this craft weekend caper is. Indeed I think it is on the verge of becoming a movement. The day before I left, I was at Rathdowne Remnants and I mentioned that I was going on a craft weekend and the woman asked Sewjourn?  Then she said sadly that had no crafty friends to go with, but somehow I think that's just a matter of time. This craft weekend phenomenon just keeps shifting and moving and I'm betting it will keep growing. I'm glad Sewjourn is chock full of bookings, that means that all over Melbourne, there are women who have experienced the delight that is a Sewjourn craft weekend. Maybe one day we'll need more venues... imagine a whole town taken over by crafting women! 

1. me in the dining room mirror, 2. rain AND sunshine, 3. bud, 4. tapshoes, 5. new stripey tee shirt, 6. the stork at night, 7. eleanor pursuing her film studies, 8. running late for dinner, 9. walking back to the studio at night, 10. works in progress, 11. sock monkey buddies, 12. big grey clouds, 13. rosemary, 14. suse's sewing machine, 15. stomper treading the boards, 16. tree, 17. lesley concentrates on her sewing, 18. ellen and suzie, 19. view over the back fence, 20. stomper relaxes by the fire eleanor made, 21. I kept seeing this and liking it, 22. suse spinning, 23. fog on saturday morning, 24. sunrise (by suzie), 25. sunset Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

At first I doubted whether I could go away for three days. The will I get away with this? or am I being a bad mother? do I deserve this? kind of doubt. I let all that hooey go pretty quickly. Besides, G is fine with the whole craft weekend thing. And it means that he gets to go out this Saturday night and I am so totally OK with cancelling my prior engagement because I went to Sewjourn for three nights and three and half days!! And had a fabulous time with fabulous women.

I managed to get ridiculously drunk for a short period of time on an equally ridiculous amount of wine (as in two glasses) and start crocheting a granny triangle. There was superb food, cooked by others. All I had to do was make a lunch and people were happy with soup (I get groans from too much of that soup at home). Snacks appeared as if by magic and the heating was brilliant (unlike home where I am sitting on top of a heater in several layers of clothing, a hat, a hood, hand warmers and a big shawls - it's bloody cold in Coburg I tell you). And what did I make? Well, I left with three finished objects; a tee-shirt and skirt that are so me, a vest that is pretty good but needs to be taken in down the side seams. I also half finished a jumpery top out of the same material where the sleeves are too tight but the sides are too loose. Yeah, I think I need to work on my patterns a bit.  Definitely I spend too much time altering and guessing. Anyway the three finished objects were all worn to work this week and I feel like my wardrobe crisis has been averted and I can't wait to finish all the works in progress. Including the jacket covered in cat hair that I didn't take in case it gave me the mozz.

Have I told you how much I love going to Sewjourn?

april craft weekend

Part of me is itching to write a scrag fight at the craft table or fisticuffs at the blog meet post, because surely, surely all this goodness is really too good to be true. You would truly think that. Especially if you're an old cynic like me. And you would think that the odds of a such a thing happening would increase if you add in a fair dose lady cramps plus a missed purple pill from me, an overdue essay from Suse and Maria breaking her toe in the dark while stumbling near cactuses. But no. We came, we talked, pawed over fabrics and patterns, cooked and ate marvelous food with lovely wine. Talked and sewed. Sung out loud even. And it was really and truly good. Just like it always is. Even though craft weekends were good before we found our crafting heaven, having a regular venue that ticks all the boxes is a real bonus. Sewjourn is such an easy one hour drive from Melbourne, far enough from home to be away, close enough that you don't spend precious sewing time getting there.  And packing is so much easier, knowing that there will be irons and cutting boards and plenty of room for the sewing machines. That studio is just like a big gorgeous play room for grown ups with fabric!

1. pine mushrooms and rosemary, 2. sue's sewing box, 3. test quilt, 4. finished at last (photo by ellen), 5. suse, hard at work, 6. shoes, 7. tree, 8. the opinionated knitter, 9. yellow and green leaves, 10. gloomy weather, 11. wood pile, 12. through the trees, 13. susie sewing the top stitching (photo by ellen), 14. in the studio, 15. wet leaves, 16. wet rose

Of course I took more than I could possibly do in one weekend and my overly ambitious list of projects hardly made it out of the box, but I did finish the quilt for Maeve. As you can see above. Machine quilting was harder than I expected. I made a little test quilt which went easily enough but the big one was much more tricky (for a beginner like me anyway) and there was quite a bit of swearing, but it's finished and I'm pretty happy with it (in particular the machine stitched binding which I must take a close up picture of). Anyway she'll be getting it as soon as I can wash and dry it. Now I just need another weekend for all the other projects....

burned

It's hard to know where to begin writing anything, it's been such an overwhelming week. So I'm just going to start at the beginning and see where I end up. On Black Saturday as it's now known, I was at one of my regular craft weekends. This time down the beach. In the morning the weather started out pleasantly enough and everyone hoped the forecast was wrong, but once the clouds burned off, it got hot. Seriously hot. At Angelsea it was only about 43 (109C), but you could see the nasty winds outside as we sat inside sweating and sewing. Fire weather. As we were to the west of the city, we knew the cool change would come early and that we could go to the beach. Still, I was a little nervous. The house was in a heavily treed area that had burned on Ash Wednesday in 1983 and before I left home, I had gave G the exact address just in case. As the heat rose and wind became wild and nasty, I made my own personal fire plan,the beach with a woollen blanket or if I couldn't find one, a rug from the floor. But in a way I was more worried about G and Grace at home in the city where the temperature reached a nasty 47C (116F), unheard of for Melbourne. He sounded tired and melted when I rung and I wondered whether it had been fair to leave him and Grace. My biggest fear should I be caught in any catastrophe is being separated from my family and it felt like one of the those days when any number of things could have gone wrong. We of course, living in the inner suburbs were safe and far from harm's way.

famous view of the Melbourne from Kinglake, now burnt - the Herald Sun

The first inkling of the horrible disaster surrounding our city was when one of the women on the craft weekend got a text kinglake gone. Anxious calls were made and people's loved ones were safe and we kept on crafting. Later that night before going to bed, Suzie heard more of the disaster unfolding on the neighbour's radio and we crept out into the night to hear. Di got the ABC going in the lounge and we sat and listened for a while. It was bad, fires in Gippsland from the Princes highway in the east to the Hume highway heading North. Murrindindi, Toolangi, Kinglake, Marysville. Fire within 2 km of central Bendigo, a major regional town. Fire in Narre Waren, which is an outer suburb of Melbourne. Beechworth, Resedale, Horsham. The state was aflame. In the morning it was blissfully cool, there was some rain even and we kept crafting. Not one of us knew the true extent of fast moving inferno devasting towns and the beauty of craft weekend kind of wrapped us in a cocoon of good things, craft, food and conversation. On the drive back, the sky was greyer and thicker than usual and I felt relieved to arrive home. G told me of what he had heard on the radio and how bad it was. Later after Grace was in bed, I sat and watched the news. Then it hit me and I wept. For the people who died, over 180 now with more to come, stories of lucky escapes and pain, for the sheer awfulness and terror what people experienced. For the people not knowing what had happened to their family and friends, for the people caught trying to escape (read this at H&B). For the people that got away and lost everything. For the 7000 people homeless or displaced. For communities ravaged.  For the horrible loss of it all.

Work last week had a grim edge. I was anxious that my uncle aunt and cousins and that friends who live in the hills were OK. They are. Other colleagues had similar sorts of worries. There were people moving around, bustling in and out. A sense of urgency alongside the mundane busyness of what we do. I work for C'link and we've been having quick daily meetings to be updated on the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment as policy and procedure evolve. Often there were more than a few moist eyes in the room. Quite a few of us have said we would work at the relief centres if required. It's work I have the skills to do and I'm ready to go, with G's blessing and support, but at the same time the thought terrifies me. It would be good to do something concrete. Then I wonder would I be up to the task? Chances are though, my job will be to carry on as normal or to backfill for someone else. And that is OK too. C'link has come in for serious criticism, which made me feel so sad and ashamed because I know that my colleagues on the ground would have been doing their best with the instructions they were given, but I also know that there is always a way around proof of identity issues in extreme circumstances. Thankfully this has been addressed and now we all have extremely clear instructions to priortise helping bushfire survivors in any way possible. There has also been massive behind the scenes work to try and deliver payments to people already receiving a benefit without them needing to lodge forms. I'm sure it won't be perfect but the bureaucrats will be trying. The list of postcodes affected illustrates yet again the enormity of it all. (How right I was, see C'link stuff up again here....)

View of the fire on Saturday night from Doncaster - The Age

Now I just wish I could do more. I wanted to give blood, which as my mum said would make you feel as though had given something of yourself, but after a careful reading of the FAQ, I'm not eligible.  We've donated cash to the Red Cross, which seems like the most sensible and practical thing to do.They certainly don't need any more material aid at the moment. Sorting through it all takes time and cash means that what is actually needed can be bought. There's also a really comprehensive list of ways to help, crafty and otherwise here at Handmade Help. I'm working out what I can do, because helping, even if it feels a bit lame, seems like the only way forward.

So all week I've been a bit teary. So have many people around me. Indeed, you could hear the emotion in the voice of deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard when she made this speech (transcribed in a heart wrenching post by Kim). There were leaky eyes in the parliament and the Prime Minister on telly was holding back tears. G says that people not directly affected are taking on the emotion and owning it. But how can you not? This is the biggest peacetime disaster this country has ever known and part of it has been taking place within an easy hour's drive. Everyone knows someone affected or who knows someone.  And what Australian gets to middle age without being touched somehow by fire? The stories pass through families, between friends, in casual conversations. Every time there is a big fire, I have this clear memory of a moment after school when I stood at the gate to my primary school watching the Dandenongs burn. Knowing that my father fighting the fire there (Mum think it was 1969 and he was helping his best friend's family in Montrose). I remember walking out of Coles in February 1983 and the sky had turned black. There have been many more fires since then and although I have never actually been in any of them or lost someone in a fire, watching them unfold always touches something primal and makes me cry. And these ones, the 2009 fires, are by far the worst yet. And they are still burning. Last night and tonight I saw orange firefighting helicopters overhead as they returned to the airport. They are menacing and comforting at the same time. Today the sky was grey, the rising and setting sun was red and every now and then the air smelled of smoke. Rain would be good.

slowly drifts into sleep

Last Saturday, I was lucky enough to be treated to a day at Sewjourn (otherwise known as craft heaven). Suse won a prize of a day crafting there and got to take a friend, and that friend was me (thanks Suse!). Lucky me. (If my tone seems strange, it's because I'm reading The Poisonwood Bible by Barbabra Kingsolver in almost every spare moment - even standing at the tram stop -  and I think I am being taken over by the character Rachel). I took the quilt for Maeve that I've been working on for quite a while. Actually though, the making of this quilt has mostly been part of my inner craft life. So progress has been slow. Luckily she is very little and hangs out in her mum and dad's arms (and sometimes her aunty's - such a cuddly little baby). I'm blaming the heat and my lack of skillz with a rotary cutter. Before going on the craft day, I watched this lady on youtube explain how to cut fabric with a cutter, again and again, trying to figure out where I was going wrong.Then I got distracted by watching videos of all these crazy quilt ladies. I love the idea of quilts and quilting, but there's also something very scary about it as a craft. Is because of the precision and maths required, or just that thing of cutting up fabric into tiny little squares only to sew it back together again? Or how it seems to be very addictive? Then I got nervous about the craft day, would it be full of scary and crazy quilters? 

Kind of crazy, yes. Scary, no. Well, not on a personal level. The quilting work was awesomely good. Hovering on that edge between somewhat intimidating and totally inspiring. But you know what it's like with a room full of crafters, eventhough you're doing your own stuff, soon enough you're looking at this and that and asking questions, picking up tips and watching how things are done and nattering away and then someone offers to show you how to use a rotary cutter when you're ready. And they do. And lo and behold, it is no longer a mystery and after a day of much cutting, I have these mad rotary cutter skillz (or a start anyway). Thanks Meredithe!

All in all it was a great day, with awesome company (full list here on Bronwyns's blog), lunch laid on, cupcakes and air conditioning. And a big photo session with Suse on the way home in a cooling breeze. It was great. I even didn't feel guilty about lingering because I wasn't driving. Lovely. Much scampiness from Grace on my return home, but she loves her target t-shirt with the rough noddy applique. That I should photograph (note to self - photo any actual crafting that is half way presentable).

I'd show you the quilt in progress too, but my sister, mother of the newborn Maeve, reads here occasionally. She knows I'm making a quilt, but I'd like to keep some element of surprise. I really did think that I'd ffinish it on Saturday, but of course I didn't. Still I have this coming weekend, which is a full blown craft retreat with my regular group (aren't I lucky). But I also feel the need to make something to wear to work. Coming up with clean, seasonally appropriate clothes three days in a row being a challenge right now. So who knows. I might see how the weekend goes.

craft nirvana

The other night dreamt I was back at Sewjourn, working at one of the big tables with Suzie, Di, Suse, Sue, Maria, SallyRose, Cath and Jill. Grace refers to these women as the ladies from the computer, (as distinct from the pool ladiesI guess.)  In my dream I could hear the whirr and rattle of the sewing machines interspersed with music, singing, laughter and the odd swear word. Projects were discussed, life matters dissected, garments tried on, tea drunk, blogging talk indulged in by the bloggers, biscuits eaten and wine bottles emptied (I wish the medication would have allowed me to help more with that one, but I'm sure I made up for it in the biscuit department). It was good. So Very Good. And the best thing about this dream? Knowing that I can go back. Will go back. After many different venues, we seem to have found our crafting home. Suzie's written 15 reasons whySewjourn was so good and all I can say is, if you have a group of crafters and you want to go away together somewhere close to Melbourne then I doubt it gets better than this. 

Despite not finding enough time to cut out the fifty million things I was intending to make, I put completed a new pair of trousers and a new skirt, both of which I'm really pleased with. The other skirt I made for myself, out of fabric I love, I rushed at. As a result I sewed the front pocket onto the back of the skirt and now it's sewn too tightly to be unpicked and looks really strange. The sundress I made for Grace without a pattern also needs a bit of fixing. So from now on, I'm resolving to slow down and make one or two things as well as I can. No more manic rushing. Although the energy before dinner on Saturday night and again on Sunday afternoon was pretty high. It's exciting, but perhaps that's the time to whip up a coaster or to embellish a few t-shirts for Grace. She quite likes her new yellow t-shirt with the bambi on it, along with a pretty pink cotton dress that I nearly didn't buy at the Lancefield opshop because I thought it might be too tasteful for her. But she loves it, worked backwith her purple t-shirt and red shoes. The opshop also yielded a heap of old kids books which I may or may not get around to photographing.  

There's so much more to say really. Especially about the privilege of being able to go away and revel in sewing and craftiness with these amazing women. To be in a space outside my everyday life where I can do something that I get deep pleasure from. It always feels good to get back into the groove with my sewing machine. That I can plan on this sort of weekend as being something that will happen again in the future. Perhaps this will be the earthcore equivalent of my forties?

weekend craft debrief

Slipping back into a cold, wet, greyness that is Melbourne in late winter (especially in a drafty house), overlaid with a million and one things to do and this creeping tiredness that goes with the weather, I'm hanging onto that special craft weekend feeling. Sure, it was cold and wet, but when you're having that much fun it really doesn't seem to matter. Especially when you're inside, crafting. But even when you're outside, taking photos, it's fun.

Anyway, I've been thinking about why I like these weekends so much. Of course, there's the most obvious attractions: spending quantity time in the company of inspirational, creative, nurturing women (including some who don't have blogs). Sitting around at night, knitting or sewing and talking. Watching someone else make something you haven't thought off before. Eating and drinking, being cooked for, baking a tart instead of dinner. All the pleasures of a shared table. Even drying the dishes with someone else. Not to mention cracking jokes about the decor, although I have to say, it really wasn't a patch on the house we went to last November, that was a stunner that one. And there's the whole thing about being out in the country and seeing new and pretty things.

late afternoon sun across the road from the Kyneton woollen mill where we stopped on the way up

However, I think something that I really, really dig about this craft weekend scene is the time to spend immersed in making. At home, even if I think I have a whole weekend to do something, there are really just little gaps of possibilty and projects just sort of creep along. If I'm organised, there's two hours in the afternoon while Grace is asleep that are good for sewing and maybe some time after dinner if I don't want to go on the internet. Athough I do sometimes knit while my flickr pictures upload. On a craft weekend, you can craft all you like. Because it's a craft weekend. I remember on the first one, this feeling of liberation crocheting around the table, after dinner. These women understand. And there's busy hands everywhere. Making has an urgency, a priority. Love that.

Anyway, I started knitting a new scarf, several times. Loopy wool, so it kept getting wider and wider, until after about the sixth ripping I learnt to count the stitches every couple of rows. That'll be for Grace if she likes it. For me or mum or Betty if she doesn't. Bought some glorious dark greeny, bluey, murky but brilliant wool, which I think may be the first time I've bought wool new. But I only bought enough for a scarf and I think want to make a vest. There's a design in my mind I think could knit. Will have to make a sample to see how much wool I'd need. I didn't actually go to the wool show, with the move imminent, an event holding that much temptation to buy was something I was prepared to forgo for a whole day of sewing with the music up loud. Started off by finishing the silk top that has languished unfinished since the last craft weekend, and a skirt that has also been cut out but unmade since then. Made a skirt for Grace which, in the excitment of mummy returning home, she said she loved but so far refuses to wear. It's for school, she says. So now I have only one more cut out pattern left in my unfinished projects box!  Also fixed Grace's toy giraffe, he's in a fragile state and kept splitting and spilling kapok all over her bed. He's meant to be living somewhere safe now, but I noticed he's back in her bed already. Oh well. She was pretty pleased to have him back.

of cows and clouds

I do believe I may have a type of bloggers block. Ye olde compose fantastic posts in my head but unable to write them down sort block. Or perhaps, afternoon naps on languid afternoons and telly on balmy nights are seducing me into idleness. Although I have started purging our possesions again; there's possibly a car load to go back to the opshop piled on the verandah. Yep. And when I can get to my computer, I've been working on my photos and wondering why I take so many. Like with material clutter, it takes me ages to sort through them. I'd like to have an easy knack of keeping only the really, really good ones, but that must take a relentless discipline. A bit like people who have a capsule wardrobe of perfect matching outfits that fits into a small suitcase. That they update and maintain in a measured and planned way. Sigh.

So anyway, the beach holiday feels a long time ago. Life has slotted back into the Melbourne groove. I was going to show you some cows and clouds, and talk about this and that, but I've forgotten exactly what so I might just move right onto the craft weekend. It was excellent. And this time, I remembered to take my sewing machine pedal. The great plans I had of sewing many outfits didn't exactly come to fruitition, but some things take longer than you expect. And really like always, the best part of all was the company of fabulous women; Sooz, Suse, Di, Lauren, and the blogless but just as fabulous Cath, Jody, Maria and Stephanie. Working and talking, looking at fabric and yarn, eating fantastic food (extra special mention and gratitude here to Maria, who spent most of Saturday cooking - as her craft!).

 

As for the crafting, I finished the doll's quilt that was going to be my holiday handsewing project until I worked out that I don't enjoy hand quilting. Dolly also had some new stuffing inserted and received a new outfit. A dress and some underpants (something I'd like Grace to aspire to). Anyway both the outfit and the quilt have been very well recived. I'm also halfway through a top for me, from some quite nice Nana silk I bought at the opshop last year. Hopefully I'll finish it before Christmas. While we're on matters craft related, I was kissed by the Craft Fairy just before we went away and received a package of some lovely fine cotton yarn. Thank you Craft Fairy! I'm yet to work out a project for this, but maybe I should have a go at some knitting? My knitting is very basic, but I have to learn sometime. I think this would be nice to knit with? As opposed to crochet, which would also be nice.

Coming home from the craft weekend was the end of my big holiday. It was hot. So hot that going back to work was almost a relief.  And evenings were spent in the heat battling (or giving up) the hundred and one things that take up your time when your computer has had all the programs reloaded. Like learning a newer version of my photo software, just when all I really wanted to to do was get my photos done. In the heat. Oh, I could have cried. As it turns out, once I started with the new program, I realised it's way better than the old one, no more using photoshop just to straighten a horizon line. Have also had to get Dad to help make my outlook work again, what no address book? Anyway it's all done. I'm back online. Properly. Now I just have to figure out why the Flickr uploadr isn't working well like it used to. I tried the new version, it kept crashing and when it worked, was very slow. Which is a pity, because it looks quite the business. So I went back to the old one, which is having issues I've never had before. And why the Feedburner email subscription form isn't working properly on the pool site. There, that'd be a list almost... I do belive the block is gone now.

And it's raining. Real rain !!! With thunder! There's a whole lot of washing on the line, but who cares?! Rain....

in pink

I have this idea that I wear black all the time, and it's true I do wear a lot of black. Last year I tried to go a whole year without purchasing or making a black item of clothing. And it was hard. Women in inner city Melbourne often wear a lot of black or other dark colours, particularly those that came of age in the eighties. I remember my mother taking me clothes shopping and trying in vain to get me to wear another colour. It's funny, but these days I sometimes wear quite a bit of pink.

In this photo I'm wearing an old t-shirt from Best and Less. Nothing special, just super comfy. And very pink. It kind of fits in with the decor of this room which was an extraordinary mix of cutsie pictures, weird bedspreads and gruesome Mary Leunig cartoons. In a house full of very umm, quirky decor. I packed in a hurry on Saturday morning after the house auctions (we didn't get either of the houses but I'm OK with that, our house will turn up at the right time). My destination, a house in the country for a craft weekend with some very special ladybloggers and crafty women. During which I made half a pin cushion and took over 200 photos. But as others have said, the real prize and delight was the company of fabulous women. It was a shame not to be able to go for the whole weekend, but going on Saturday meant I was able to attend another bloggy gathering of another lot of fabulous women on the Thursday night. Hugely fun!  I feel so lucky to be part of this wonderful bloggy community. Tickled pink, you might say!

See what others are wearing here.

Craft is good

Life seems to be zooming past at the moment. Already the fabulous weekend away crafting with Sooz, Suse, Di and Sandra seems to be fading into blur. I rushed to get away and I rushed to catch up when I returned, but the in between seems like an oasis of calm. Jumbles of craft supplies, many fantastic projects, the whirr of sewing machines, conversations that went from intense to hilarious and back again, red wine, civilised meal times, not feeling rude bringing my crochet to the table afterwards, walking on the beach, a fantastic view and a gorgeous baby boy.

Despite my compulsive listmaking, I forgot to pack two really crucial items. My pillow with the peaceful cream pillow case and even more importantly, my sewing machine cord and pedal. Doh! Which means that the material I cut out last Thursday is still in a box awaiting transformation into new clothing. And may well remain so for some time. Oh well. Lucky I packed a bag of wool and some crochet hooks at the last minute. I picked and unpicked my project several times but I think I may have rebonded with the crochet hook.

photo courtesy of Di, thanks, I love the blur.

It's a ripple blanket, but of my own devising. Not having access to the internet, patterns or even my mum, meant I had to find my own way. When I returned and checked, I thought, I'm doing it all wrong, but then thought again, this is a style of work I like. It's quick and fun to do in front of telly. And suitable for Australian conditions. The project I started while I was away has been set aside. The finished item I have in mind needs to be much smaller. I won't pull the first one out unless I run out of wool and may well use it to turn my stash of odd bits of wool into a knee rug. Yet, I'm not at all worried about loosing my weekends work.  The new project is sailing along, all the better for concentrated time with a wool and hook.

As I crochet, I've been letting Grace play with a sample and some small balls of wool. On Wednesday I was sneaking in a few rows and saw this.  Isn't it just the best? It thrills me in a way I can't express that she's playing at crochet. How long before I can teach her the real thing? Oh the excitment.

From all reports, Grace was a total delight while I was away. Well, except for the regular throw herself on the ground and kick and scream until she goes red in the face tantrums. Which happen several times a day, no matter who's there. I missed her even more than I thought I would, but it was OK. We talked on the phone each morning and at night and she seemed to understand that I was away and that I would return. I got home later than I anticipated; it was so hard to leave the crafting circle, I'm a slowish driver and we had to cross town. When I crept into her room to gaze upon her sleeping form, she said hello, hello. I picked her up for a cuddle and she said hello again and then, sleep. Little tired girl.

But oh yes, it was good to be away. Just for a while.