Post 489 Done is better than perfect

 

Wednesday was World Embroidery Study Group, when Keryn talked to us about her 2012 trip to the Sub-continent, visiting villages in the Ralli area, to investigate the making of Ralli quilts. She had many adventures and with difficulty got access to the women who make the quilts, whose lives were largely cloistered. She brought along many of the quilts she bought under her own Fair Trade policy.

It was a lively meeting, and the 13 or so present loved it.

It is a great group, tolerant and supportive. Several members are caring for partners or parents, or dealing with their own health issues.  A lot of shared understanding. 

Back on the balcony front, the abseiling painters have still not arrived. I have used the clothesline and moved the plants, pegs and chair back on to the balcony. Today I moved the hose from my bath back to the balcony. It has rained quite a bit but not enough to keep the Almanda Blue wet. It has done so well over Summer and it's precious.

My Bali wall plaques remain creepily covered. I may yet wake one morning to a pressure hose against the glass. 

I visited Bunnings after Pilates on Thursday to buy a tin of paint. I'm going to repaint the two cane chairs on my balconies - hopefully after the abseiling finishes. I bought a few replacement plants - and a lovely pot of bulbs which perfume the whole apartment living area. 

I'm making progress - though slow - on the St Brigid jumper. I have now completed 90 of the 200 rows in the back. Two balls got me through 80 rows so I'm hopeful I have enough wool. If the back and the front each take 5 balls, will each sleeve need more than 3 balls? The sensible thing is to knit a sleeve when I finish the back. I will hold my nerve till then.

I paid a visit to The Yarn Trader on Thursday, to buy a metal cable needle. I bought a couple of shapes, but this one is proving most efficient. It's long enough not to slip off and smooth enough not to catch. The plastic ones with ridges were slowing me down.

I now have a simpler chart count. 

I can remember the edging chart and the basic cable chart that goes between the three cable patterns, so I only need to follow in detail the three complex panels. I'm finding it easier on a metal board with a magnetic strip even if it takes up more space.

Sunday was the first day of a two day course at the Guild, Christine Bishop's Pulled Work Mat and Pincushion. I enjoy her courses and thought I might make this into a table mat. It required 30 count Belgian linen, which I could not find in Adelaide. I had left it too late to buy from interstate, but wasn't too worried because Christine has an extraordinary supply of linen which she often brings along.  I was out of luck. Luckily I took along a back-up piece of 28 count linen.  I started on the back foot, because I hadn't completed the tacking - which was substantial. 

I managed to catch up and complete one square by the end of the class.  

 

In positioning the first square I had not allowing for the reduced thread count and a selvage, so have had to adjust some of the internal spaces in laying out the whole mat. I spent much of yesterday finishing the tacking and working out the complete layout. I've now got it under control, ready for the second day of the class next Sunday. Some lapel pins I had ordered arrived yesterday while I was working on this. I think I might make this my motto!

It is now school holidays, so no Monday dinner here. Veronica, Niamh, Fionn and I had brunch yesterday at the Queen St Cafe. Fionn and I had the trade mark lime milkshake. Veronica had haloumi with asparagus, pesto and poached egg, Niamh French toast with poached fruit and cream, Fionn a burger and I smoked salmon the scrambled eggs. All delicious. I think Niamh's won on visual appeal.

Today I paid a quick visit to an exhibition of Persian Embroidery by Akhtar Esmail-Zadeh at the North Adelaide Community Centre. Akhtar is an extraordinary embroiderer who gave a talk to the WES group a few years ago. 

Although glad I went,  I was a little disappointed. Most of the works are behind glass, and displayed above eye level, which produces glare. It's still worthwhile seeing, both in terms of overall design impact and her  individual stitches. Two large embroideries are mounted without glass.

My neighbour came home from hospital this morning after his pacemaker fitting yesterday (on their wedding anniversary!). He seems spritely, as usual.  He is supposed to refrain from playing tennis for 8 weeks, but I will be surprised if he can wait.

The sunset on their wedding anniversary was brilliant, and possibly visible from his hospital room, though I doubt he was awake to see it. 

I hope  they enjoy many more.