Post 485 Job list

My chair is back in place in my sitting area. The Guild Exhibition closed on Sunday, and I picked the chair up today. My old luggage wheels did good service once again. I have my apron back as well, put aside for someone needing to protect clothes.

It's been a week of catching up on jobs. I finished the baby cardigan that the Guild shop wanted to go with a greeny-blue blanket, part of one of their Welcome Baskets for newborns.  I got a bit carried away with an idea for a bag to go with it. I got out my Inktense pencils. These are used with water, suitable for fabric, and dry permanent.

sea colour blanket

  

crochet blanket 

This has now been added.

At the same time, I delivered the crocheted blanket I talked about last week, also in a  bag. 

It is waiting for the matching cardigan I am working on, made from a cone of Coats/Paton yarn, 70%wool, 30% acrylic, that belonged to my mother and has knitted up surprisingly well. 

I'm hoping to deliver this by the weekend.     

Last week I realised I had put a big toe through the upper of my Mary Janes - the shoes I wear constantly when sandal weather wanes. I tend to alternate between two pairs of shoes in summer, and another two in Winter and I haven't bought shoes for several years. I finally did a bit of a shoe audit and decided it was time to replace 3 pair. Lana Lang had sandals on special at the end of the season, so off I went after Pilates.              

I ended up with three new pair. The new Mary Janes have leather uppers and my toe will not penetrate. The ankle boots are grey and very soft. 

The saleswoman also suggested getting the damaged Mary Jane repaired on Hutt St - quite close to me. I took them there this morning and yes, they can be repaired. So, in spite of good intentions, I have ended up with one more pair than I started with.

My big excitement of the week was the arrival of my hap stretcher from Paparwark on Shetland. I  have wanted one for a while, and made enquiries about having one made locally. When Paparwark modified their design so it packed in 1 metre, rather than 2 metre lengths, I took the plunge. It took just over three weeks to arrive. I picked  it up from the PO last Friday but didn't unpack it until yesterday. This is the package - and the product.

It is a beautiful item and such a neat design. I'm very impressed. I had expected to have to store it in my carpark locker, but it is so neat that I have found a corner for it in my apartment. I haven't erected it but can see how it is done. I don't have a shawl to stretch  erected. This morning, after picking up the chair, I headed to Spotlight and bought some padded, quilted cotton to make a carry case for it. I'm part-way through making it. It will, I hope, make it easy to carry and transport, so that shawl-making friends can borrow it, erect it in their own home and stretch their shawls.  I will report next week on completion.

Last Saturday JEMS met in the midst of the Exhibition, a lively, interested group. Older members and visitors get pleasure from them being there.

I spent several days establishing my status in relation to the Working With Children Certificate now a legal requirement for volunteers. I had assumed, incorrectly, that my 2019 Police Clearance covered me. There have been a series of administrative changes of which I was unaware. I have now, with Katherine's help, applied for the correct clearance. The Guild has updated procedures. I found the process of sorting this out quite stressful.

Finally, while sorting yarn for the blanket, I came across some gauge samples and worked them into a peculiar bag. The story is in my embroidery blog. 

Post 484 It's Mad March in Adelaide

This morning I went for a walk in the Pakapakanthi Wetlands. I haven't been for a couple of months. There is a lot of council work going on and, interestingly, not much water in the creek. There's a lot of fallen timber, cut up and left for wildlife to make homes.

Also, a lot of new life emerging in seemingly dead wood.

The week began with Exhibition duty at the Guild in lieu of our WES meeting. It went well. I was Day Coordinator. We had 20-30 visitors and a lot of interest in the exhibits. After worrying that we were short of volunteers, an appeal meant we ended up being able to send some home. Those on duty were great. I enjoyed the day.

It was a long weekend in Adelaide - Adelaide Cup Weekend. It is also Mad March - Festival, Fringe and Womadelaide all underway. After Exhibition duty, I did a lot of stitching and reading. 

On Friday I went for a walk on the Grange Jetty before Sit'nStitch. The tide was way out and there was a class of boys practicing ball skills on the beach. 

On Sunday I walked  to A Prayer for the Wild at Heart for a late lunch. It was quite windy, but still pleasant sitting outside, looking over the Square.

This time I tried the Gnudi -  which was really fantastic. Very glad I went.

I spent some time reading or knitting on the back balcony. My latest dove friend visited and seemed comfortable moving around while I was there. The Almanda Blue is slowly spreading really well and my visitor appreciated the water tray responsible for its health.

Most of my effort has gone into the baby blanket - detail in my embroidery blog. While stitching in the daytime I have been listening to Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art, by Rebecca Wrag Sykes. It's an almost perfect audiobook, interesting and full of new information that the pace of listening gives me time to digest somewhat. Much of it applies to ancient - and contemporary -Homo Sapiens,  as well as Neanderthal life. 

In between, when not stitching, I am trying to cover the recommendations for our Book Club next Sunday. I've just started Kerry Greenwood's Murder in Williamstown, which I picked up at Kmart this morning for $A8. Haven't read a Phryne Fisher for a while - so far so good, and a copy to loan to friends and family. 

I'm still avoiding crowds, events and poorly ventilated venues. I wear a mask if in doubt.

There's plenty to keep me happy!