WHERE HAVE I BEEN ??

2008 was a non-year .... and here we are in March 2009 and what have I been doing with my life??

Last April my husband, Ern (who has alzheimers) went missing for a couple of days just before ANZAC day. I had been taken to hospital with a possible heart complaint and Ern came with me in the ambulance. When we were told that I had to wait 12 hours for another blood test Ern went home. He was to book a taxi at the hospital reception desk, however, surveillance camera shows him leaving through the front door to ........... ??

26 hours later he was found 22kms from the hospital and no where near home. Apparently he walked all the way. It was a frantic 26 hours - I discharged myself from hospital - there was TV and radio coverage, helicopter surveillance and family, friends and neighbours looking for him.

He spent a week in hospital (badly cut from blackberry bushes, dehydration and kidney probs). His memory has deteriorated and I feel that I can't leave him for long periods of time. Yes I could get respite, but I just don't want to yet.

I have had to change my lifestyle greatly. I no longer go into my favourite place, The Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Vic. I miss my voluntry work there and especially my friends/members. I haven't done very much spinning either ..... until this year. I have knitted umpteen beanies for the Guild's charity "St Mary's House of Welcome" for the homless. So I still feel useful.

Early February 2009 Victoria experienced their worst bushfires in history. Over 200 people perished, whole towns burnt down and 2,000 homes destroyed which left thousands homeless. These fires changed many peoples' lives.

I personally didn't know anyone who perished. However, I look at things differently now. Amongst other things, just how much wool and fibre do I REALLY need?

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

I thought of the usual New Year's Resolutions, like losing weight ....... being a good girl ...... don't buy wool, spinning fibres etc etc etc ......

So what did I decide on ...... ???????

Firstly, that I am going to be more committed to my blog ...... someone recently asked me if I had fallen off the planet ..... perhaps for a while .....

Secondly, that I will knit and forward one item each month to one nominated charity for my yahoo group - Knit4Charity. Of course I will still keep on knitting my beanies and scarves for St Mary's House of Welcome here in Melbourne.

The photo shows Chloe lying on a cat blanket ..... saying, "why can't it be mine ??????????

A Doggie School Saturday Sky

Today was doggie school. My mum who is visiting for a few days came and watched. She said Chloe was a very good student. (I was really hoping Chloe would be on her best behaviour with mum watching !!

The photo shows from left to right: Terry with Sooty, Yvonne and Scout, Michael and Boof, Cheryl and Sweep (Sweep and Sooty are related), myself with Chloe and Lyn with Benson.

We had rain this afternoon - beautiful beautiful rain - it was lovely to hear it on the roof ! We need so much more ......

Monday's Jewellery Day

I made this lovely two strand necklace and matching earrings at Sonja's jewellery class today. Black, white and clear beads with silver spacers in between were threaded onto silver tigertail with a large pewter flower in the middle.

It would look stunning on a "little black number" ...... something that I don't have in my wardrobe any more !

I'VE JOINED RAVELRY !

After months of waiting, I have finally been invited to join Ravelry - http://www.ravelry.com/

This is an awesome site and I suggest anyone interested in spinning, knitting and crocheting to join. Now I definitely have to post knitting/spinning photos to my blog.

This photo shows 6 skeins I contributed to the Handweavers and Spinners Guild Experimental Group entry for the 2007 Bendigo Wool and Sheep Show. The blue and green skeins represented the sea and the orange skein the Australian outback.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM

Happy Birthday to the best Mum in the world .........
Lots of love from Viv, Ern and of course Chloe
kiss, kiss, hug, hug, woof, woof

CAN ANYONE RELATE TO THIS?

This is funny and totally explains why spinners are such unique people! A recent study indicated, that raw fibres gives off certain Pheromones that actually hypnotize women and cause them to purchase unreasonable amounts.

When stored in large quantities, the Pheromones (in the fibre) cause memory loss and induce the nesting syndrome, (similar to the one squirrels have, before the onset of winter, i.e. the storing of food,) therefore, perpetuating their species and not having a population loss due to their kind being cut into pieces and mixed with others.

Sound tests have also revealed, that these fibres, emit a very high-pitched sound, heard only by a select few, a breed of women known as "spinners." When played backwards on an LP, the sounds are heard as chants, “buy me, dye me, spin me".

In order to overcome the so called "feeding frenzy effect," that these fibres cause, one must wear a face mask when entering a storage facility and use ear plugs, to avoid being pulled into their grip.

Studies have also indicated, that aliens have inhabited the earth, helping to spread the effects that these fibres have on the human population. They are called "FIBRE STORE ASSISTANTS".

It's also been experienced, that these same Pheromones, cause a pathological need, to hide these fleece purchases, when taken home (or at least blend them into the existing stash.) When asked by a Significant Other if the fibre is new, the reply is, "I've had it for a while!"
Author Unknown

Dolly has a sister

My Uthando dolly now has a sister and a baby! My three dolls will be sent off tomorrow to the Uthando Project Co-ordinator.

I have already started knitting another l-o-n-g scarf for the homeless. I am using acrylic yarn, 14 stitches and 10mm needles. This is one way of using your stash and helping those less fortunate than ourselves.

Saturday Sky 6 October

Five minutes after this photo was taken, the sky turned stormey and it rained! So why didn't I take a photo of the rain? I had just left home to take Chloe to doggie school.

I know we always talk about the weather, but we need the rain so much. It really is quite scary that our water reserve levels are so low.

I need to wash some fleece before I dye it, but I sorta feel guilty using the water. It's a shame we can't get our fleeces drycleaned !!! hehehehe lol lol

Uthando Project

I am a member of the Aussie Knitters Yahoo Group and we are knitting for the Uthando Project (dolls for Zulu children). The dolls must have brown (not black) skin with black hair.

My dolly began as a Trauma Teddy and ended up looking like this ..... I began with 12 stitches for each leg, then dolly just evolved as I continued knitting. I knitted in some lace at the bottom of her knickers !!

I have now started on a "sister" for her ............

This is their web site: http://www.uthandoproject.org/

THE BIRTHDAY CAKE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME ........ he he he

WHAT HAS HAPPENED DURING THE PAST FEW WEEKS
...... mmmmmm .... lets see .....

I had a birthday !! So what did I do for it??? Well it just happened to fall on a Certificate Spinning Class day where I was co-tutor with Carmel. It had been Carmel's birthday a fortnight before. Carmel is such a quiet, considerate person who does just so much for her family (I think they might take her for granted). So I organised a birthday cake with Happy birthday Carmel and Vivien on the top. The cake suited the fun day that we had planned for the students.

During the spinning class, we broke all the rules the students had learnt over the 2 years. We made a "fibre sandwich" which was broken into 16 portions. The students were to spin and ply their portion in whichever way they felt like it ...... !!! The students are just so lovely and clever ...... even some of these roughly spun skeins from the fibre sandwich balanced !! Oh how clever!!

TODAY the weather is dull, dull and even more duller. We actually had rain yesterday - YEAH ..... none today so far ....We are in desperate need of so much more.

Chloe went to doggie school ..... and was the star pupil today ...... Again, I was hoping that we would all get soaking wet training our dogs. Nope, I came home dry !!

It is the football Grand Final Day today - Geelong v Port Adelaide. At the time of writing this they are into the third quarter and Geelong is miles in front. It has been 44 years since they won their Grand Final.

I AM BACK !!!

Sorry I have not been in the land of "eblogland" but things got a bit beyond me. However, I am here now, so if anyone is still reading my blog I am back !!! I must admit I had trouble remembering my password!!

Today being the 1st day of Spring, I thought what better way to post to my blog. This photo shows the beautiful red flowers of Great Eastern Camillia against the beautiful blue sky .... ahhhhh ....... Saturday sky!!

Earlier today, Chloe and I went to doggie school ..... yes, we are still attending. Both of us are doing very well!!! Then Kate came for lunch - for Father's Day tomorrow (Kate is working tomorrow).

Ern and I are both well, although Ern's memory is not so good and I am putting on weight !!!

A Scarf Saturday

Last Saturday the Handspinners and Weavers Guild of Victoria in conjunction with Craft Victoria organised two workshops -

- Spinning fat singles, dyeing the skein and knitting a scarf on your hand.... and ...

- Knitting a scarf straight from unspun roving/fleece, at the same time adding bits of material, beads and locks of mohair or wool.

I was there as a general gopher for the morning and in the afternoon helped the students knit their scarf.

The photo shows one of my scarves that I knitted straight from unspun wool/mohair roving. I added English Leicester locks throughout the scarf.

We had a wonderful day - the students had a great time and the tutors and gophers enjoyed themselves.

SP10 May/June Parcel Arrived

Today a parcel arrived from Kristeen, my SP10 Pal. Once again it had been opened by Australian Quarantine. Several parcels had been unwrapped, then rewrapped but nothing had been removed.




Kristeen had included in the one parcel my May and June gifts.

Kristeen you have spoilt me again this month. You have been so generous and thoughtful in your gifts.

Kristeen lives in Windsor Canada and she sent me:-

• Canadian flag
• Canadian carry bag (for all my lovely goodies)
• Canadian notebook
• Fibre Trends Pattern (Everone's Favourite Hat & Scarf) ....and .....
• Knit Picks skein (Bare) - it is just so soft
• 2 balls of blue Cotton Ease
• 2 balls of Bernat Ultrasoft Cotton (mauve/aqua)
• a jumper keyring
• 5 very cute sheep buttons
• sheep magnet
• 2 lovely soft sheep (Ebony has a lovely black face and Ivory has a pink face)......and .....
• 8 pkts of Koolaid (will be used for dyeing not eating!!)
• block of "stickies" in the shape of a V
• 2 tubes of hand lotion - Mango mandarin and Cherry blossom (and they smell absolutely devine)

There were also some yummies .....

• 2 Pkts Smarties (who can only eat one smartie and leave the rest until later?)
• 2 Aero bars
• 2 Caramilk chocolate bars.........and ..... I think this may have been for Chloe .....
• a box of very cute Twisted whiskers blank cards

Kristeen, thankyou very much for everything. As you said in your card, buying for someone you don't know can be difficult and fun at the same time. Well, all I can say is that you make a wonderful swap partner .... and thankyou very much.

SP10 Contents

This is the lovely card that Kristeen, my SP10 pal sent in her April parcel to me. It is just so cute .............

Now keep on reading .........

This is how my SP10 swap parcel arrived.

My swap partner, Kristeen, sent the parcel early April and I received it today.

The parcel had been opened by Australia Post for inspection by Australian Quarantine because the screeening process, which uses detector dogs and X-ray machines indicated that there may have been an item of quarantine concern in the parcel. A leaflet was added to my parcel stating that upon inspection, everything met quarantine conditions. The offending item was a pump action hand cream. It was subsequently rewrapped and nothing was removed from the parcel.

Inside the parcel each individual item was wrapped in lovely new issue paper. The offending parcel is the one on the right.

Haven't I been spoilt?

My parcel consisted of:-

• 3 balls of Bamboozle yarn (55% bamboo, 24% cotton, 21% elastic nylon)


• 3 dishclothes she knitted from organic cotton. They are just so soft ... will be used as facewashers.


• 1 round pot scrubber (I think?? it is just too soft for the kitchen sink!!)


• Pkt of Canadian playing cards


• sheep stationery (ewe beaut!!)


• sheep shopping list (I won't be writing lamb chops on it !!)


• a magnetic Canadian Mountie (and he is so sexy)


• Pkt Werther's Original hard candies ..... yummo


• 2 Nestle coffee crisps ..... who cares about dieting when you have something like this to eat !!!!!!!!!


• some Lindt chocolate sheep - it would be tooooo cruel to eat them !!!

AND ......... the offending hand soap (along with the Australian Quarantine leaflet)!!!

THANKYOU KRISTEEN ...... THANKYOU KRISTEEN ..... THANKYOU KRISTEEN .....

SP10 PARCEL RECEIVED

Hi World ......
Just wanted to let the World know that I have received my SP10 April parcel this morning (9am). I haven't even opened it yet ... I have sent an email to Kristeen thanking her for the parcel. It had been opened by Australian Quarantine but they said nothing had been removed.
NOW I am going to go and open it ............

Mystery Skein Swap Parcel Finally Received

This Saturday morning sky photo was taken Saturday morning when I was heading towards the Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Victoria for a dyeing (colouring day). The photo shows Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance in the background and one of our trams in the forground.

I still have a lot more to write about ..... but a Sunday roast needs to dished up.....

It has been quite an eventful week. On Monday I went to Wangaratta to visit my mum who was not well. She has had xrays and tests and gets the results back this coming week. So I hope everything will be Ok. It was good to catch up with my mum and also my sister and her family. Life is so precious, so we have to make the most of it.

I received a swap parcel .... this one was one that I didn't expect to receive. I participated in the Mystery Skein Swap which began in January. You were to send 100gm of yarn (wool, acrylic, whatever) to your swap partner and they in turn sent you 100gm of yarn. Then we were to knit something with that fibre and send it back to them. I received my swap yarn and promptly knitted a really long sideways scarf and sent it back to Paula in Mitchigan. I sent my lovely soft black yarn to Paula wondering what she was going to do with it.

So I waited and waited ..... to be fair, Paula did have back surgery during the swap period. The Mystery Skein Swap Yahoo group was very interesting - there was a fair bit of flaming and allegations of thieving. Abruptly the Yahoo group finished and that was the end of the swap ... people were left without addresses and without receiving their swap parcels. I had thought I was not going to receive my parcel ..... and then it arrived ..... a scarf and some note pads and pens. It was such a lovely surprise. Thankyou so much Paula for sending it.

So maybe I will still receive my SP10 Swap parcels. My swap partner has emailed that the first parcel had been sent ..... in April. Oh well, time will tell if I receive it and the one for May/June.
And in case you are wondering yes, I did send my SP10 parcels to Chooi wah in KL Malaysia!!

Will I participate in the next SP ??? Don't know .... will wait and see .........

The First Week of Winter

Saturday looked as though it was going to be stormy. But no rain. Chloe completed her "Juvenile - Advanced" dog obedience class and was awarded her certificate. We, the dog handlers didn't receive a Certificate ...... !! sob sob

It has been a busy week. On Monday I went along to a bead jewellery class and made a lovely handbag charm.

Wednesday I went into the Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Victoria. The Bendigo Spinning group came to visit our rooms. I had a table of different bombyx and tussah silk products .... you name it, and I think I have it! There were also silk skeins and some completed silk items.

The Bendigo group wanted me to show them how to do a 'Fibre Sandwich". They brought along 50gm of fibre and with the fibre that I provided we created a sandwich. We layered the different fibres and after we divided the sandwich, portions were placed in paperbags and distributed to the participants. We had a lot of fun and the ladies enjoyed themselves.

Doctor's appointment on Thursday - got the results of a bowel cancer test - negative !! hooray !!

On Friday it was back into the Guild rooms. I was on office duty. It was also Joybelle's day where Jan showed us how to knit with wire, fancy yarn and beads. We were suppose to make a braclet but I didn't like mine and redid it when I got home. However, my braclet turned into a brooch!!

My SP10 Swap partner Chooi wah in Malaysia emailed me to say that she received her parcel. This was a 3 month swap, however, I sent her a parcel in April and then sent her a combined parcel for May and June. My own swap partner said she liked that idea and is doin the same for me.

On the knitting scene I have been knitting some scarves for KOGO "Knit One, Give One" charity. When you travel on public transport you seem to get a lot of knitting done.

Swaps

Saturday Sky
It was a beautiful day and it is hard to imagine that winter will be here next week.

The 2007 Certificate Spinning class was on today. The girls were having a dyeing day. As I was not required, I went to dog obedience class with Chloe (Ern came along to have a look and a laugh)! Chloe found it difficult to concentrate .... "now where is he" I could hear her say !!

SWAPS
In the past I have enjoyed participating in different swaps. This is something that we do because we enjoy it. Most times you receive your parcel from your swap partner and sometimes you don't !! That is the risk you take, especially when participating in an overseas swap.

Over the past few months I have participated in several swaps:-

Aussie Knitters "one skein and a choice of three"
I sent to Frances in Adelaide some dark blue fingerless gloves, handspun wool and a lovely (well I thought so) knitting book.

Last week I received my parcel from Brigite in Townsville. She sent a lovely beanie, but not just a beanie! It was made from using 2 yarns together of Patons Jet (30% alpaca 70% wool) and Moda Vera Butterfly (nylon, merino wool and acrylic). It really is beautiful. Brigite also sent a lovely pair of gloves made from some of the leftover Jet, a baby knitting pattern book and 3 cakes of beautiful handmade soap that she made herself. Brigite is a very talented lady. I will definitely be wearing the beanie and gloves when I travel by public transport into the city this winter.


SP10 Swap
This is a current Swap. I am sending to Chooi wah in Malaysia. I sent her a parcel in April. Apart from handspun wool and aussie souveniers, I also included a felting book and some beautiful handpainted commercial tops which Chooi wah could use to felt. She said that she was pleased with what was sent. Last week, I sent her a parcel which included her May and June gifts (well, it is nearly June!!). I hope she likes the contents of them.

My secret SP10 pal has emailed me saying that my April parcel is on its way, and perhaps it would have been quicker for her to travel and personally deliver it rather than sending it. Well that's snail mail for you .......

One Skein Swap
This was a very interesting swap in April. We had to raid our stash and exchange 100gm of fibre (it could have been anything ..... acrylic, wool etc etc). With the acrylic fibre I received I knitted a LONG LONG sidesway scarf.

I sent my oh so soft fibre to Mitchigan, but as yet I haven't received it back knitted into something really exciting.

Towards the end of the swap there was a lot of flaming on the yahoo group and it was becoming quite unpleasant. Then the yahoo group abruptly ceased.

In General About Swaps
As I said, sometimes you receive and sometimes you don't. But never be disheartened and say that you will never participate again. In future I will gladly participate in swaps. These are friends that we are yet to meet via a swap.