Post 503 Preparing, Relaxing, Enjoying.

It began as a week of getting jobs done, catching up on things I have been putting off. On Wednesday I went to the hairdresser, hung the photograph I had framed a few weeks ago, and prepared my tax.

Many thanks to the friends who provided advice on carpet cleaning. That was helpful, supportive and useful. I haven't as yet acted, but I will. Next week I plan to visit Bunnings to investigate further. At the moment I am favouring buying a small carpet shampooer. 

On Thursday I took the plasters off my back and got back to Pilates (not in that order!). On the way I called at Bunnings and bought potting mix, some dianthus, a couple of wheel platforms for pots and some wall hooks that hold weight and don't require tools to install. I haven't heard back from my former picture hanger, so decided to see if I could do it myself. 

The mirrored mosaic I bought a few weeks ago weighs 4.2kg. I used a 7 kg hook for plasterboard walls and followed the instructions. 

 It's holding up firmly.  The lovely pinky watercolour visible in the left of the photo is by Brigid. I moved it to where it now is so it can be seen from the corridor. It goes well with the Ruth Tuck watercolour above it.

It was formerly on the corridor wall where I have now hung Colleen's Green Parrots and Ginger Jar (above left). I think it all works - and I did it myself! 

I also made adjustments to a bark Wandjina painting that hangs over my bath. A couple of the hangers (removable adhesive so as not to damage the tiles) had fallen off, so it hung askew. My efforts were not of a high standard, as I did not want to climb in the bath while on my own, but I did manage to support and straighten it.

The two books on Mexican embroidery that I ordered after seeing the Frida and Diego exhibition arrived (separately) this week. I'm hoping that someone in the WES Group will be inspired to investigate and tell us about it sometime next year. The Guild Museum has a decent collection of Mexican embroidery.

The Goodman book has a lot of very helpful information about stitches.

Birds are still active and I am trying to resist too many photos.  I can't claim to have been successful in that.

I finished off the Christmas bags - adding the ribbon to the last one. I also stopped off at DK Fabrics on Thursday and bought some black zips, one of which I used to turn the embroidery from Christine Bishop's Romanian Braid and Needle Weaving workshop in March of this year, into a pouch. I found some raw silk, from a suit I once had, to use as lining, so it could be used for storing pearls, or other jewellery. 

It was a long weekend in much of Australia, our State included. My brother and sister-in-law arrived on Sunday for a week's visit - the first since COVID hit, so much of the early part of my week was taken up with preparations. They had a busy week (including two surprise birthday parties in 48 hours) before their (inevitably delayed) flight. 

It is fantastic to have them here. We have been catching up with each other and visiting the Kilkenny mob. Katherine hosted a family lunch for 10 yesterday which was fabulous in every way, from the conversation, shared experiences and empathy to Anthony's wonderful lamb roast, vegetable smorgasbord and Katherine's pavlova.  

I now have an advance copy of Jim's latest book, which is to be released on 30 October. I'll provide more details closer to the date.

Meanwhile, Margaret is making the most of the hap stretcher, stretching a navy shawl she finished a year ago for herself. It is even more complex than her last. I hope she will wear it to our December WES meeting when we discuss knitting.   

For those following the progress of my latest shawl,  I'm now on to the 7th of the 8 required 28 row patterns. 

Finally, two more books arrived today from Can Do Books. Textile Portraits looks a bit ambitious, but Japanese Knitting Stitches looks as if it has some achievable, interesting stitches - to add to my list of things to try!

Post 498 Flying.

A magpie was in the Guild garden on Saturday, watching the carpark activity from a safe vantage point  as I was leaving, taking off as soon as a car moved.

Birds have been active all week: Spring is on the way. The Adelaide Rosella appeared on the seemingly still bare tree at the back of the apartment but flew off before I could grab the DSLR. The early buds must be swelling. The doves have visited every day and the honey eaters make swift forays to check out my plants. 

I had my 6th  COVID vaccination on Wednesday before juggling car parking spaces with my cleaners. I had no adverse reaction, but was tired for a couple of days during which I had time to work up a list of jobs I have been putting off and the courage to tackle a couple of items on the list. 

So, on Friday, I plucked up courage and disposed of the lamp whose shade I had replaced in February . The shade did not fit properly and I had removed it in fear of it falling off. I like the lamp, but I don't use it and it deserves to be used and appreciated. At the risk of coming across as completely mad, I took it to a restoration centre, along with the shade and offered it to them free. My fall-back was to buy a shade that did fit and take the working lamp to a charity. The two assistants in the shop were wary of agreeing without the owner, who was on his way to the shop. When he arrived, he agreed immediately but asked me to accept a bottle of wine in exchange! Done.

The restoration centre is across the road from Nordic Design Furniture so I took another chance. The hap stretcher I bought from Shetland has a problem with one of the 4 connecting knobs that screw the sides together. A screw on one was too short, and would not hold the corner firm. I had researched repair centres and handymen, but found no-one who did such repairs. I took the set of connectors into Nordic Design Furniture and asked Daniel if he had any idea of a service that might fix it. He took it from me, got a tool and some glue, explained the problem (part of the screw had disappeared into the wood) and affected what may only be a temporary fix. He also explained that this side of the connector (lower in photo)  is designed to remain fixed. The connector should only be unscrewed from the side with the brass surround. This made sense, and may mean the temporary fix can be permanent if I undo it correctly. It was a generous response.

I came away from these two encounters on a high. It was uplifting to be shown such kindness in these contexts. A madwoman comes into your business with out-of-left-field, unprofitable requests. Both men responded with kindness and empathy. I felt affirmed and successful. 

I had a late lunch at A Prayer for the Wild at Heart to celebrate, trying the really lovely whiting special instead of my regular gnudi.

Saturday was a Certificate Course workshop taken by Margaret Adams on Canvas Stitches on Linen . There was a lot of information and stitches I have not worked before. I worked on a looser weave linen than most participants, so I could see more clearly what  I was doing. I had a great time and kept working on it when I got home, even though I had other things to work on.  

This is where I am up to (it's a 15cm hoop).

The reason I can work on this, is because I finished and blocked the alpaca shawl during the week. It was a long and, at times difficult, process, but worth it. I have written about it in detail in my stitching blog in more detail than all but knitting nerds would want.    

There is no shortage of things I want to do. I mended a couple of shirts for Fionn over the weekend, ordered a couple of books to help with work I've agreed to do for my brother's next book, while some Christmas fabric I ordered months ago for bags arrived, and I have agreed to give a workshop on Glazig embroidery for the Certificate Course next year. 

My priority is finishing the Canvas stitches above, then the Christine Bishop drawn thread mat - before I embark on another shawl.

Post 487 Plenty to celebrate

Today is Fionn's birthday. We celebrated last evening with his choice of dinner - his mother's Mulligatawny Soup and apricot cake. I contributed rice and popadoms.   

It was a lovely evening of sharing, celebrating a fabulous young man. I am so privileged to have him in my life.

We are still doing Covid candles - and I for one cannot see myself reverting to previous practice. Blowing over shared food for 70 or so years? Once I stopped to think about it ....

Daylight saving finished on Sunday morning and the extra hour included a morning chill that prompted me to change over to my winter quilt. There were sufficient hours of sunshine to wash the summer one and get it dry, so the symbols and the housekeeping aligned.

I did enjoy the last few days of 7.30 sunsets. It's a good time to take in the loveliness. It's now dark by 6.30pm.

It was a neighbourhood kind of week. I worked steadily all week on my Glazig project and treated myself to a late lunch after Pilates on Thursday at A Prayer for the Wild at Heart along the Square. It was a bit windy sitting outside, but still pleasant and the food is excellent. It's pleasing to see how much the jacarandas, planted a couple of years ago, have grown this summer.

I arrived home to a call for help from a neighbour who is booked into hospital for a pacemaker fitting in April. The online registration form sent by the hospital had discombobulated them. It took us 2 hours to complete the online forms. I was very happy to help. It was convivial and we had a few laughs. It concerns me, however, that such a complex process is expected of patients. Many would fall at the hurdle.

On Friday Susan and I assembled the hap stretcher. It was an easy, if slightly awkward process. We didn't, in the end, use it to block her shawl, which eventually blocked flat on the table without pins. We did, however, learn a great deal. The stretcher will work well with any shawl with two sides at, or close to, a right angle.  Fully extended, it is 2metresx2metres but it can be assembled in many smaller sizes. If you enlarge the photo, you will see four square holes along each side. These are the positions for reducing the size.

My back-up duty for JEMS on Saturday turned out to be an easy gig.  It was a small group of 4 students, enjoying each other's company. One used the sewing machine to assemble her cushion and insert a zip. The others needed little help.

My major stitching achievement for the week was to finishYah Zour, my Glazig project. I am delighted with the result, which is detailed in my embroidery blog. I feel as if I am in the swing of this now, and might work a couple of small samples for my May WES presentation.

I am now concentrating on Brigid's jumper - a cable fantasy which will challenge me until I am into a rhythm with the 5 charts that are repeated in a sequence of 7 across each row. A day of so should get me into the rhythm.

Yesterday we had information that the abseilers engaged to undertake the much delayed painting of the western wall of our apartment block, including balconies, will begin their work at 7.30am this Thursday. I am sceptical, given the following day is Good Friday - but I will still have to clear the balcony in case (sigh). 

        

Also related to Easter, yesterday morning two young women buzzed my apartment. When I answered, one explained, My friend and I are inviting everyone to a party tomorrow. It's free. Can we leave an invitation in your letterbox?.  Having no interest at all in parties, but  being polite, and assuming they were locals preparing neighbours for noise, I agreed. 

The invitation turned out to be a Jehovah's Witness Easter Memorial Service some 12km away! Both ethically and theologically dodgy!

I hope your Easter experience is peaceful, personal, profound - and honest!

Post 486 Autumn

I tried another vegetable bake with chipolatas last night. This time I left out the lemon juice and baked it at 200 degrees in an attempt to get it a bit more crispy. I cooked it for about 100 minutes and mixed it around several times during cooking. It worked fairly well. Nothing burned, and about one third of the contents were to some degree crispy. I think that's OK. Everything is cooked, and it provides a bit of a choice of soft or crispy. I meant to add the lemon juice back in at the end, but forgot (likewise the photo). Next time.  I think the higher temperature worked. 

I finished the multi-coloured baby cardigan and delivered it to the Guild shop to go with the crocheted blanket. It was well received and completes their current need. The next round of demand is expected around October. I need to finish the second crocheted blanket I am working on - then take a six-month break from  baby bundles. It's been a useful stash buster - and I enjoy it. There are, however, a couple of other things calling.

Before I seriously moved on to them however, I attended the Guild's Certificate Course workshop on Rumanian Braiding and Needle Lace with Christine Bishop, who had generously as always, worked lengths of braid for us in advance so we could work on the needle lace and weaving.
I really  loved it. It is a great design. I finished it off at home, but haven't quite mastered the braiding yet. It's much easier with a lucet but this does give a more decorative result. I'll keep trying from time to time. I haven't quite decided what to do with the finished piece. 

My next knitting project is Brigid's jumper, the wool for which arrived last September. I have gathered my tools (lots of stitch markers!) and cast on. I need to refer to three charts to progress, so am waiting for a few uninterrupted hours to get into the swing of it. Hopefully tomorrow.

My embroidery priority is Glazig. I need to prepare for a workshop on this in May, so I have started working on the kit Genevieve so kindly sent me last year, Yar Zour (Beautiful Chicken in Breton). It is proving to be most interesting - more detailed and varied than I had anticipated. I hope to have this finished this week and will write about it in my embroidery blog. I'm learning heaps.

My progress on Yar Zour slowed today. I had originally planned to go to the Cinema, to see Fisherman's Friends 2. It is only showing once this week. I really enjoyed Fisherman's Friends 1 which I saw twice, once in England with Pen and Mark. I haven't been to a cinema since Covid arrived and thought I might venture now that I've had my 5th shot. However, on reflection, I demured. I read several critical reviews of the film, and lots of luke-warm comments. Since Health authorities have warned of an infection peak this month in Adelaide (Mad March), it seemed a silly time to relax my risk management, especially if I am likely to be disappointed in the film itself. Looks like I wait for it to be streamed, or buy the DVD. 

That left me free today to finish the bag I have been making for my hap stretcher. This is quite a saga - details in my embroidery blog. 

Daylight saving ends next weekend. 22C today. This afternoon I needed a singlet under my cotton top - always my sign that Autumn is here. The day began with rain but finished with sunshine - perfect for my plants, most of which are looking very happy.  I fertilised them about 10 days ago. The forecast has been amended to rain for most of this week. Plants 1, washing 0. We don't complain about that in Adelaide!

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.