Post 607 It never rains but it pours!

 

I snapped this photo of what I think is the Peace rose at the Guild as I left on Wednesday. It was looking really good. Our meeting had, once again, gone swimmingly. We learned a lot about the English embroiderer Louisa Pesel, who organised, in the 1920s, the stitching of 365 kneelers and other works at Winchester Cathedral, where they can be seen today, many still in use. We are also well on the way to having our 2026 program in place.                          

 

Back at home, encouraged by the response of the group, I cut out a bag from my remaining piece of face-to-face fabric, and pencilled in the names of the current Australian female Anglican bishops and the Canterbury Archbishop elect, ready to stitch. I know I said I would wait until I'd finished the carrdigan and tapestry - but I really wanted to see if the female bishop idea would fly.

I did finish the back of the cardigan. As can be seen by the colour change (left, not as obvious in the garment as in the photo), it took the best part of 3 balls. I have left the remainder of the third ball attached (top, just left of centre) to add the band). I've started a front.

 

On Friday I prepared the project, notes and publicity for the Evil Eye Certificate Course Workshop I have agreed to give at the Guild in January. In the middle of it, my printer spat the dummy, giving me a series of instructions that I followed to no avail. I had fortunately managed to print the first draft of the notes for participants, so sent a final draft off to Officeworks to print. I also ordered some items from the Guild Museum to be delivered on the day of the workshop. This was a bit of a challenge as the expectation is that you will print the form, fill it our by hand, then hand it in at the Guild. I edited it online in Word by creating text boxes for every line -then emailed it.

I've also sent off the publicity for the Guild newsletter and created both paper and plastic templates for participants to use, along with stitch suggestions. They are ready in a tote bag, along with the relevant books and examples - a good job jobbed.

I seem to be dealing with technology breakdown on multiple fronts. My bathroom scales, an essential part of my weight management regime, have been giving me multiple and inconsistent readings across a 3kg range. The result differs from minute to minute and from bathroom floor tile to bathroom floortile. When I searched for an answer, battery failure was suggested. I thought this unlikely, and indeed, a change of battery made no difference.

The most likely cause was a need for recalibration. This requires a specialist service, whose charges are way more than the cost of a new set of scales. More research suggested the most reliable brand (not mine!) so I sourced one at OfficeWorks and bought it. To my horror, using it requires an app, a registration process, a set-up and a whole series of recording and reporting functions I do not want. I did the minimum required to stand on it and obtain a reading. When I did this, it, too, jumped around for a couple of minutes, trying to make up its mind. When it settled on a number, it was at the upper end of the old machine's fluctuations. On Sunday I returned the new machine to OfficeWorks - who were totally obliging. The old machine is now back in the bathroom, along with an even older machine I had stored in my wardrobe, so I can compare. So far there seems to be a consistent 0.5kg difference.

In the evening I finished embroidering the names of four of the Australian bishops. I find the Quaker stitch effective but a bit tedious. Getting the letters legible is difficult. Progress, however, is encouraging. One side of the bag is now embroidered.

Sunday was the first of a two day Carol Mullan workshop at the Guild, to make a canvas work needlecase. It was a lot of fun and both my eyes and my back held up. I was pleased with my progress, even though I left early to be home for the arrival of Sean the Geek to install my network backup, returning the scales on the way.

Sean installed and calibrated back up storage, gave me advice on the TV installation and also examined my printer. He located the problem. Replacing the problem part is likely to cost more than a new printer so I spent an hour or so exploring options. Do I need a printer? Does it need to copy? Does it need to be coloured? The answer to all three questions is probably no. It is, however, convenient to be able to print a page from a pattern book. Forms often have to be printed before filling in. Maybe a black and white laser printer would do the job if I photograph the book page? 

The back up disk is still loading data.

While all has been going on, I’ve been negotiating what seem to me exorbitant delivery and installation charges for the new television. In the end I have limited choice and need to accept the inevitable. I should have required these charges before I purchased. I can only hope the final product, when installed in November, lasts a decade.

Today I spent a pleasant 3 hours catching up with Panayoula and hearing about her very recent month-long trip to Greece to attend a family wedding, with side trips to Estonian and Helsinki. There were lots of photos to view.  While I was out, I had a message that a book I have been waiting for from the UK had been delivered - but when I got home I couldn’t find it. I spent an hour or so contacting Australia post who are now investigating, but it looks as if the address was incomplete - just "16 Hurtle Square”  Checking with PayPal it seems the error was on the order. 

I am now enquiring of my neighbours, however two of the 4 apartments at 16 are on the market and empty. The owner of a third travels a lot. It seems it never rains but it pours - or the universe is testing me in some way. So far I’m sticking with nil desperandum, but it’s an effort! 

I began this post with the Guild's Peace rose . I'm choosing to conclude with a pelargonium I admired at the Guild on Sunday. 

There is such joy, and peace, in family, friends and flowers.

Post 606 Comings, Goings and Staying.

This week’s big outing was lunch at Carrick Hill with 4 friends. Carrick Hill is a 1930s mansion, set in 100 acres of gardens and bush land, just 8km from the CBD, operating as a museum and gallery. The current exhibition is on The Rose in Art. It also holds a fine collection of William Morris. Since I was last there, a large and freestanding restaurant has been added. That’s where we met. I shared a pizza from the wood oven. We caught up for two hours, with no pressure to leave. It was busy, and a little noisy.

I got there an hour early intending to see the exhibition, but chose rather to admire the grounds and browse the shop.

On the way home I stopped at the Highbury’s Shopping centre, which was on my way, to buy zips for my Monday task, and made a stupid move.

The Needle Nook is part of a small shopping strip with parking behind. For some reason the carpark is bounded on three sides by a metal fence with solid rails at the top and bottom. The only entrance or exit is via the driveway to the side road.   On the other side of the metal fence there is a footpath which takes you to the shops via a back entrance. It isn’t the first time I’ve tried to duck through the rails of the fence. This time I fell, landing heavily on my knee - the one that does not have a replacement and I have been protecting. I managed to extricate myself, limp out the car entrance, around to the shop's street entrance and buy the zips. Hot packs at home have helped and the knee is slowly recovering. My calves are bruised.  I hope the diagram helps. The carpark is bigger than I’ve drawn. It would hold 10-12 cars. The arrow shows car entry. A poor design (and a worse drawing!).

In the end my knee did not prevent me accompanying Katherine to the Opera meets Organ concert at the Cathedral on Saturday afternoon. It was an interesting concept, enhanced by the newly- installed sound system. It was a good length, giving me a couple of hours at home to contemplate my long weekend dress making task before heading to Kilkenny for dinner and the crosswords.

 

I've also booked tickets for the Messiah in December, and for the ASO matinee series at Elder Hall next year.. It's an easy outing, and I have really enjoyed the two I've been to this year.

Tessuti fabrics is doing a rerun of their face-to-face fabric. I still have enough to make one bag and hesitated for several days before ordering another 1.5 metres. This is only the second time it’s been offered,  and may not come again.

I’m playing with the notion of using the piece I already have to embroider the names of the 13 female Australian Anglican bishops plus that of the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury. It seems time to mark progress. That’s, of course, when I’ve finished the cardigan and the blue birds tapestry!

On Wednesday, Trent, the B&O installer and electrician arrived to check out my setup and prepare a quote. We hit it off and ended up discussing kidney disease and treatments at length. It’s been a long time since I had such a discussion which was once an integral part of my life. It felt good.

The weather warmed up on Saturday and Sunday, but is now back to 16-18C days with rain forecast. It was the Labour Day long weekend, and the beginning of daylight saving 

I spent most of Sunday, and all of Monday remaking school uniforms into statement clothes for an end-of-school celebration- a tradition at the girls' school. The girls chose their designs, unpicked, cut, tried on, adjusted, made suggestions. These are the styles they chose, not their finished dresses. I'm pleased to be able to help, and enjoyed working with the girls. They know what they want and are quick to help.  The event is over two weeks away. When it is over, I might have photos of the actual garments. 

 

 I was up a bit early this morning to retrieve and clean a ladder from my storage unit, so the cleaner could clean the airconditioning vent in my kitchen. They also vaccuumed up a lot of threads and helped me move my rugs back to where they were before I reorganised for the TV. My rearrangement led to too many tripable wrinkles. I got rid of dried flowers that were about to fall and planted a couple of plants from pots into the wall garden. It was lovely when the sun came out this afternoon.  

A supermoon rounded off the week. Tonight it is closest to Earth

which is where I am progressing the Bluebirds tapestry.

Post 605 Slow but Steady Progress

After the busyness of my last post, it was a treat on Wednesday to take the city loop bus around to Elder Hall, next to the Art Gallery,  for an Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Matinee Concert. 

I was drawn by the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, but enjoyed the whole program. It was fabulous. 

I breathed a bit easier as the sun went down on Wednesday. 

It was back to business on Thursday. The B&O technician arrived about 10.15am on to assess my TV. While there is work that could be done to retune, even I, the great repair advocate, think it is time to move to a proper Smart TV. We discussed B&O options. My initial thinking was to move to a model that sits on a cabinet, rather than my current floor stand. 

When the technician left I moved furniture and rugs around to measure for cabinet possibilities, before rushing to Pilates. By the time I returned, the technician had sent two options, one with an integrated sound bar, one with it separate.

Also in my inbox was a draft of my Income Tax return, ready for me to read, check and amend or sign. I gave priority to tax, which took some time. It’s the first time I have done it online. Pleased with my success, I then spent some more time shifting furniture and measuring, before replying to a email from a friend wanting me to check his memory of a meeting I chaired in 1967, before he submits a motion to Synod! Fortunately, I had stopped at Queen St Cafe for a late lunch, so didn’t need to cook dinner. 

By the time I went to bed, having played with TV measurements, I was changing my mind about a cabinet. I slept on it.

In the morning I graphed them up and settled on a floor stand. No matter how I configured it, a cabinet model blocked part of the painting, even when the cabinet is only 18” high. I could move the painting, but I don’t want the screen to dominate the room. On a floor stand the replacement will be about 3”higher and 3” wider than the current one. I can live with that. Maybe a cabinet to fit behind it?

The hardest part of living alone is having no one on hand with whom to talk over these decisions. They are normal, inevitable decisions well within my capacity, but the benefit of a sounding board in immeasurable.

In the course of finding a ruler to graph the space, I found the missing Swift! As I had begun to suspect when the new one arrived, I had been looking for the wrong shape box. It was in plain sight. It is possible, of course, that the elves have been at work. Whatever the explanation, I now have two. Unfortunately I can't manage to wind two balls at once, so I now have one to lend out.

On Friday morning  my copy of the newly released Richard Osman Thursday Murder Club Book 4, was ready to be picked up in store and two parcels arrived, the completely indulgent Ehreman tapestry around 10, and the environmentally-friendly Leprosy Mission Christmas bonbons around 11. 

Once they were stowed I headed west to the Brickworks to pick up the book, then back across town to B&O to discuss the TV.  I have ordered the 48” floor standing version.  An installer will visit tomorrow to inspect and confirm an installation cost. I’ve paid a deposit. While there are cheaper options, this one hopefully gives me peace of mind. That evening the quote for my network backup came through from Sean the Geek (my spelling amended now I have it on paper!) and I’ve accepted that too. I'm still waiting to hear from Will about a panel to cover the exhaust box. I fear he is not interested. And the coffee machine techie hasn't been. I continue to use the machine.

After so many big decisions and transactions in a few days, things went quiet on the weekend. Saturday was the AFL grand final, followed by the girls’ 18th birthday party. I don’t follow football and 18th birthday parties do not need to accommodate 78 year old grandmothers privileged to celebrate on the actual day, so I had a quiet time at home reading Richard Osman, readjusting furniture and knitting. It's also school holidays, so no Monday dinner. Several days, therefore, on my own for stitching, reading, gardening - and losing track of which day it is. 

Since I indulged in another tapestry kit, I needed to get on with the one barely started  on my Lowery stand. I've now worked a section.

I've also knitted 65cm of the back of my cardigan,  finishing two balls of the yarn. The two extra balls arrived yesterday, neatly wound by the shop, bringing my number to 9. The yarn is going further than I anticipated. I'm now planning on 80cm length. For that I will need at least 8 balls. As knitters know, there is always a risk of too much or not enough. I don't want left-over yarn, but not enough is worse. I might be able to add pockets. And yes, there is a discernable colour difference between the two balls even though they are all from the same (I suspect only) dye lot. Part of the interest and charm.

Today the beaded silk/wool yarn I ordered from WA arrived. Here it is with  silk I wound last week and the pattern I found for it. I think it's going to work really well. The  top and bottom edges are worked in the beaded yarn with plain in the middle. First I need to finish my cardigan!

I dropped a couple of things today at the Guild where the bottlebrush is in full bloom. I still love the unfurling stamen.

I finished  Julia Baird's Bright Shining. The first quarter aided my thinking. The rest I found repetitive without adding much understanding. Richard Osman's The Impossible Fortune was a lot of fun, though with rather too many strands and characters to keep track of - a risk with series as they progress - a bit like life. 

Post 604

This week's high point was last night's family birthday dinner - on the 18th birthday of Niamh and Veronica. Because it was a schoolday, with one working after school, and the other having a dental appointment, I was privileged to provide dinner.

I made what I call Bread and What You Can Get, and the girls call a Feast.  This time there was a Pastitsio Makaronia Me Feta, known colloquially as Pasta Pie, a favourite of Veronika's which I don't make often these days because of the carbs (macaroni, eggs, butter, 3 cheeses cooked in filo pastry), a plate of mixed party pies, pasties, sausage rolls & spanakopita, 4 salads, two  kinds of bread and, a favourite of Niamh's, Beijing duck cut into pieces. I bought the last when the shop, near the Central Market, opened at 11.00am.The duck was still warm. iI had bought and planned on some salami and leg ham as well, but decided at the last minute that no one would eat it. That was the right decision. 

No one chose to drink alcohol, so the girls enjoyed their water from the cocktail glasses Katherine and Alison bought for Jim and I on a wedding anniversary. They now rarely get an outing. 

Katherine made two very chocolatey cakes, we sang Happy Birthday, ate cake then gave presents. I was too caught up to take photos. It was a grand evening.

Appropriately,  it was also the Spring Equinox. I didn't venture up to take a photo at 4.19am. My balcony flowers, however, put on a show to mark the rite of passage. I am so grateful to be alive and included.

On Saturday morning I was privileged to accompany Katherine to a talk by Julia Baird, entitled Hope, Awe and Grace, based on her latest book, published in 2023. The talk was followed by a Q&A session chaired by Bishop Sophie. Julia proved to be a skilled and inspiring speaker. I had a copy of the book, which I hadn't got around to reading.

I began rectifying that as soon as I got home. Her  explanation of Grace really resonated. It not only got the little grey cells working, but gave me a light bulb moment in relation to the Evil Eye, sending me back to my PowerPoint presentation to make changes and showing me the way to the related project for the Certificate Course next year. I'm not going to bore anyone with detail here, but if you are interested in grace, or forgiveness, read the book! 

I contacted the carpenter about my extraction fan cupboard modification, but haven't heard back yet. I also plucked up courage to visit B&O on Friday, to begin investigating  a TV replacement. The service exceeded my expectations. Richard, their tech assistant, is now visiting me on Thursday morning to assess my current TV to see if it can be tuned or adjusted to improve reception.. There is no charge for this service. After that we can discuss options for replacement. They understand I may not want to stay at this high end of the market - which will mean going elsewhere. There was no pressure. 

In my time at home, between preparing food, reading Julia's book, housekeeping and watering the garden, I have wound quite a lot of yarn. On the sixth of the seven skeins of Spritz I worked out it was far more efficient to place the swift on the table, at the same horizontal level as my hands, rather than on the floor..  

As the table was going to be in use on Monday, I made the most of the weekend, and wound several other skeins I had stashed away. I wound two more after taking the photo, then packed it away with another project that will need it. 

I have identified patterns for each wound ball and stored them with a note of the pattern and where to find it. I haven't yet wound the variegated silk, largely because I am not sure what I will do with it.

I also ordered more of the Spritz, details of my reasoning are in my embroidery blog.

Today I have hung out two loads of washing, washed up from last night, welcomed the cleaners and had my haircut. I'm a bit tired, but content, relaxed and counting my blessings as I sit inside, on the cold and grey day, gazing at the flowers I bought yesterday and preparing to watch Antiques Roadshow, with a bowl of Greek salad and a couple of party sausage rolls.

Post 603 Quite a busy week

It's warming up, shifting between 16C and 24C from day to day. There is still a lot of cloud around which sometimes makes for a decent sunset, or at least some lovely light play.

Wednesday was busy.  At WES Group the Guild Office Manager, who is not a hand embroiderer, told us about her passion, hobby and small business in cork fabric.

She  brought lots of examples, both of the fabric and of things she has made. The cork is harvested from trees, which are then left for 8 years to regrow their bark, while the harvested cork goes through a secret process to emerge as rolls of fabric which can be dyed, stamped, stitched and polished. There was a lot of interest.

I managed to grab some lunch with a friend before writing up the meeting summary and heading to Kilkenny where Fionn had cooked a magnificent pasta dish with prawns, cherry tomatoes, shllots, lemon, parsley, anchovies and white wine . A wonderful way to end a busy and happy day.

I shopped for moussaka ingredients on Friday, as time on the weekend was largely spoken for. I cooked it on Saturday while waiting for visitors who had been inspecting the apartment two floors below mine, which is on the market. Downsizing is a scary business.  There were only three of us for dinner that night and Katherine and Niamh made their fabulous pizzas.

I had a class at the Guild on Sunday - Carol Mullan's pattern darning name badge pouch. I don't need a name badge pouch, but I like the technique and the smallness of the project. It is also a chance to catch up with Guild friends I don't otherwise see.

Unfortunately, although I searched my email archive, the only instructions I had for the class mentioned a kit, so I assumed there would be one. This proved not to be the case. Somehow I had missed an updated instruction to bring linen and threads. Carol is a great teacher, phased by nothing. We sourced some linen in the trading table and a roll of perle8, in the darkest shade I could find (!). After about an hour of struggling, we worked out the linen was 30 count, not the recommended 28. Carol produced a small piece of 28 and I started again. By 2pm I'd had enough, eyes and back protesting. I had completed 30 of the 90 pattern rows. I'm thinking I might finish it in a darker shade, then fold it into a small pouch for a pair of earings, using the pale section as the closure flap. If I finish it..

On Monday morning I moved my car into the street before 7am, then moved it just before 11 for the electrician, who arrived to re-install the kitchen exhaust fan. This involved removing the unit, then stripping away a row of tiles on the wall behind and re-installing. It took 2 hours and involved a lot of adjustment along the way in order to ensureit fitted far enough back for the doors to close   

Eventually the doors went back on and closed. It still needs a panel to cover the unit inside the cupboard. That's a job for a carpenter, so I need to contact Will.

Just as well I’d prepared the moussaka. I had time to dash out for bread and milk, make a salad for the 7 of us who fronted for dinner.  Great to have so many here.

 It’s time to work on something more substantial in both embroidery and knitting so I  framed up a tapestry cushion on my Lowry. I'm partial to a bluebird. I haven't done much of it as yet. I also got out a knitting project - a cardigan in a cotton/alpaca mix - 8 skeins.

I. went looking for my swift to wind the yarn into balls. I ended up cleaning out my craft wardrobe. It wasn’t there, nor in any other possible place. I’ve no doubt left it somewhere or loaned it to someone after last using it-  a few years ago now. I don’t mind winding skeins, but with the number I have, I need something other than a chair back to hold the skein as I wind. The simple 

Amish swift was perfect. 

I tried to source another one. They are no longer available in Adelaide, and most online shops list them as either discontinued or not in stock. I found a Melbourne company with stock and ordered one, which arrived today, an hour or so before my podiatry appointment. I set it up immediately and began winding. I love the rhythm of turning. I now have 4 balls wound.  I had to interrupt my winding for a visit from Shaun the Geek - the name given to a tech assistant recommended by my electrician.  I wanted a check of my internet set up, wifi, modem and tv. Shaun was terrific. My modem is operating well. He is going to source and price a back-up system to replace the discontinued Apple Airport. He agrees it would help to update my television - something I've been putting off. Once I've done that he will update the whole system for me. He was relaxed, informative and unhurried, I'm pleased and relieved. Now to decide on a TV replacement.

When I am tired, as I was after yesterday’s effort, it is easier to knit a beanie than to work on the tapestry. I've made two more beanies for the team, and one for selling. These are in 16 ply, so knit up quickly. I've modified the pattern to fewer stitches and only two sets of scales on each. They are still roomy. The yellow is a bit of a statement.

It's been a busy, and productive week. I've felt stressed through much of it - repairs and updates to the apartment are routine and to be expected, but on my own I worry about them. I feel a lot lighter tonight.

Post602 Laden with happiness and tears

Birds are active again, making lots of noise and moving around. I captured the doves through my newly cleaned window of the spare bedroom and snapped the honey eater through the balcony door.                       

Unsurprisingly, I didn't pay them much attention on Wednesday when I was up before 7 to reserve a parking space for the electrician. He arrived at 10.30, discussed my problem, pulled out the kitchen extractor fan, and at 11.20 set off  with the old unit, to buy a replacement. It took about 2 hours to find one that fitted & with which he was happy. It took ages to install and when it was in, the unit projected 2mm over the door clearance. I suggested shaving the door. Garry wasn’t happy. At 5.15 we agreed to leave the doors off for 12 days until he can return, dismantle the unit and remove the row of tiny tiles that are causing the problem.

I so admire the problem solving process and determination to get it right. It was a long day’s work requiring diagnosis, problem solving, meticulous measurement, consultation, product sourcing, purchasing, installation, adaptation, testing. At the end of all that, seven hours later,  it works, but near enough is not good enough and it must come out again. I dips me lid.

I returned the things we removed from the side cupboards, and also found another home for my supply of toilet paper. I don’t mind looking at it for 12 days, but it would invite jokes - and my mother would have disapproved of such display.

I had my 10th COVID shot on Friday morning - and have booked the next one for March next year. Back at home for a recovery coffee, my coffee machine showed the sign for cleaning. I got out the book and a cleaning tablet, and followed the steps. Once again, it didn’t work. I rang the shop. The serviceman who had offered to pay me a visit next time it happened was not there (Friday afternoon, POETS day?) but they promised to organise for him to come after the weekend. In the meantime I can still use the machine ignoring the ‘clean me ‘ signal. I haven't heard from him yet,and have kept making coffee. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It makes up for the slightly sore arm and tiredness from the vaccination.

When I finished the felted bag last week I had most of a 200gm ball of pink 10 ply left . It occurred to me it might make beanies for the JusticeNet walk next year. While I have made, and continue to make, white beanies for the AGJusticeNet team, I’m happy to use up coloured wool for beanies the charity can sell. The pink ball yielded 3 beanies with a bit left over. I do have another pink ball but instead I used up red left over from making slippers. In the process I worked out a better design for 16ply. 

I'm planning to move on to one of the larger knitting projects I have waiting, but as a break from knitting I retrieved one of the Ink and Spindle totes I cut out months ago and worked on it for a couple of days. Details in my embroidery blog. I'm pleased with it.

Beneath these activities has run a great deal of emotion and communication because a reserved, very private, widowed uncle in Canada has terminal cancer and had moved into a palliative care unit. Finding this out has taken a lot of detective work by my intrepid  English cousins. I helped where I could. 

The time difference between here and Vancouver makes synchronous communication tricky. He can no longer use email, which is how he mostly communicated over distance. He likes snail mail, so I’m giving it a go, in hope. It  feels as if cancer is taking over. I’ve started wearing my pin again. 

Tomorrow, however, is World Embroidery Study Group - and Fionn has invited me to the dinner he's cooking. Definitely a bright side.