The Last Saturday Sky for 2006

Today is the last day of 2006. Hasn't the time just flown by? As we get older, the years seem to slip away so quickly.

I sincerely hope that 2006 will be a much happier year world-wide ..... no wars, no droughts or floods, no hunger, no povety ..... who am I trying to kid!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOURS ..........

My SP9 Pal was SPRUNG !!!!

Last month, my SP9 Pal who lives in Dandenong delivered my exchange parcel ...... today she did the same thing ...... except this time Sue was SPRUNG!!!

I was walking through the loungeroom when I saw someone walking up to the front door ..... and oh boy, was she looking guilty! I realised that it was Sue my SP9 Pal delivering my December parcel. Would I let her get away with it, or would I say something ....... oh well IT IS a secret exchange, and secrets are made to be broken.! So I called out "SPRUNG" and invited Sue for a cuppa. We chatted for about 2 hours, as though we have known one another for years but haven't seen one another for a long time.

Ern took the photo of us .... (the 2 guilty SP9 pals who have been sprung)........ Sorry Sue, I should have had your parcel in my hands ...... instead it is under my Christmas tree.

Merry Christmas Eve ...... hope everyone has a lovely Christmas Day .......

A Xmas Saturday Sky

Happy festive season to everyone who reads my blog ...... and even to those who don't read it !!!

After weeks of abnormally high temperatures for this time of the year, it is quite cool today. We even had some rain last night, which was a welcomed relief. The rain has brought some relief for the terrible bushfires that are still burning in our country.

I have 4 metres of mulch to spread ..... today looks as though it is going to be a good day to do it. It has to be done because we still have months of hot weather to come.

My Christmas shopping has been done ..... food, presents, presents and presents ...... is there anything else?

A lovely thing happened during the week. I set up a webcam on my mum's computer but it wouldn't work. My sister Lyndy fixed it and there we were having a lovely time on the computer seeing one another. Whilst this was going on, I had a parcel delivered. It was my Christmas present from my sister ..... so I was able to open it (only the envelope ..... not the contents) and she was able to see me doing this. I felt she was actually in the room with me. What a wonderful invention.

Spin to Knit a Saturday Sky

4 metres of Euc mulch (!!) has been delivered and is now ready for us to spread on the garden. Euc mulch is finely ground eucalyptus. It has a beautiful smell when it is wet ..... and that is the reason why we got it. We are in drought conditions and can only water the garden every second day. We would just love to have some rain.

The terrible bush fires are still burning - 42 homes have been razed to the ground. I do feel so sorry for them - the week before Christmas. As can be seen in this photo the sky in Melbourne is blue ........ no smoke haze ...... still be have our home !!!

Spin to Knit Exchange
This morning I received the details of my Pal in the first-ever Spin to Knit Handspun Secret Pals Swap organized by Interweave Press. Her name is Elizabeth and lives in the USA. I thoroughly enjoy these swaps .....

The Malawi Project

This photo of jumpers was taken from the web www.aids.net.au For more information go to this site and follow the link to "The Malawi Project" then Knitting for African AIDS Orphans.

The Members of the Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Vic have rallied and have been busily knitting these jumpers. Even my mum has knitted quite a few.

The jumper pattern is very easy and the one size will fit different age groups, as there is quite a bit of give in the pattern.

Here is the pattern for the Aids BabyJumpers :-

Knitted all in one - double knit wool is ideal (8ply)
Size 5mm needles (tight knitters)
Size 4.5mm needles (loose knitters)

Cast 44 stitches
Work 18 rows in K2, P2 rib
Work 30 rows stocking stitch
Cast on 12 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows,
at same time change to K2, P2 (for sleeve)
Rib 22 more rows
Next row: Rib 21, cast off 26 stitches, Rib 21
Next row: Rib 21, cast on 26 stitches, Rib 21
Work 22 rows in K2 P2 rib
Cast off 12 stitches at beginning of the next two rows
Work 30 rows stocking stitch
Work 18 rows K2 P2 rib
Cast off

Please stick to pattern ‑ This has proven to work well.

Stripes and bright colours are fine.

A big thank you from the tiny babies of Africa.

Saturday Sky

What a hot day it was today ... and so appressive! It has been an extremely busy week for me and I am looking forward to Sunday to just sit and do nothing. This photo was taken from my sister's house in Wangaratta.

Last Saturday, Sunday and Monday I went into the Guild for the Certificate Spinning Assessements. The students' work was mindboggling ..... and this is their first year. The assessing was time consuming but well worthwhile just to see their achievements. I am very proud of them.

On Tuesday I went to Wangaratta to visit my mum. My sister and her family also live there. I was there until Friday lunch when I came home. There are terrible bush fires around them and in other parts of Victoria. The smoke was so thick, it actually looked like a pea souper fog. The next few days will be quite a worry for the fire-fighters. We desperately need the rain - not the 39-41C days with the north winds.

Today (an extremely hot Saturday) it was on the 7.30 bus/train/tram into the Guild for the last meeting of the year. The Certificate Weaving students graduated from their 2 year course. These students produced such beautiful work. I don't weave, but I certainly appreciate the work that they put into their pieces.

Saturday Sky

This is the dome of Flinders Street Railway Station in Melbourne. Isn't it just beautiful? The photo was taken at 8.45am on my way the Handweavers and Spinners Guild.

Today the 2006 Certificate Spinning Course students handed in their work. The assessments began later in the morning of flax and cotton. What stunning work!! Some of the students have only been spinning for 1 year. Of course, as the Teaching Convenor I must say that our Tutors were excellent ...... and of course the students were brilliant!! I am very proud of all the students and what they have achieved this year.

They have another year to complete the Course. Judging by the standard of the work here today, at the end of 2007 the students will all have exceptional talents in a wide field of spinning techniques.

Tomorrow (Sunday) I go in again for the assessing of worsted, woollen, silk and other protein fibres. It will be a long and rewarding day, but one that will not be rushed. The students deserve our time and attention to their folios and samples.