Silver Creek Spinner

Outfits for Christmas parties

2012-01-21T13:06:00.001+11:00

I made this frilly skirt with owls for G for Christmas

with a bag for her secret shopping

and a bag with 'Kenny the Koalas' for J to take shopping

and shorts and tshirt.

Christmas 2011

2012-01-21T12:59:00.002+11:00

The Santa collection has expanded slightly, and had a lovely hand-crocheted garland from a Christmas meet-up Swap hanging behind it. Luckily we didn't have to move them this year to light the fire, despite the weather getting quite cold.

Someone putting together the new, lovely shiny, huge bbq from his Mum.

'Smile'....and they did just for the camera

Happy Christmas

Homemade Christmas gifts

2012-01-21T12:36:00.001+11:00

This year I made mitts and a hat to put in Rick's Christmas parcel.

And a plain shawlette for Peggy, hoping it would keep her shoulders warm while she has a baby bump.

I hate it when I search for nice places for photos and the background is shabby, but time was of the essence to get these into the mail.

And a nice warm hat for Peggy too.

I made these two project bags for a Christmas swap parcel.

Fred and the wall of yarn

2012-01-21T12:17:00.000+11:00

This is my new grandpuppy. He's a cavoodle (a Cavalier and Poodle cross) in the hope that Dan won't be too allergic to him because he's got poodle fur. He came to stay over Christmas, and helped me sweep the floor. What a cutie!

While I was sweeping, somebody raided the stash of rainbow yarn. Thankfully there are 2 big bags going north next on my next visit.

Funny how someone must love pale blue! I think my rainbow blanket will have a large percentage of blue, hmm so does the one I'm making now.

His favourite colours

2012-01-21T12:07:00.000+11:00

For Christmas I made J his very own blanket to have for lying on the lounge. It's cotton so not too hot for medium weather. He has always been a huge Thomas the Tank Engine fan, and his favourite colours are blue, green and red, so this became the 'Thomas blanket' because that's what everyone said when I pulled it out of my project bag while it was being made. J loved it and had to try it out one day while they were at the farm. He must have needed a rest, or else it is a wonderful blanket, because his grumpy mood left.

Hoot whoooooooooo

2012-01-21T11:57:00.000+11:00

This is my Hoot from the Giggle and Hoot show for kids. I made it for James when I found out he wanted one. I haven't really ventured into amigurumi/toys before as my Mum made them so well, I left them to her. But I found this great pattern by Krystal Higgins and I had some wool yarn the right colour so it all happened! I'm sure I'll get better as I learn the tricks of this fiddly stuff.

Happy pinks

2012-01-21T11:44:00.000+11:00

A few years ago I bought a plant for Georgia from the Rainbow Fair. A piece broke off and I put it into this chinese-style pot which I think originally was Melva's. It grew and had a beautiful and unusual flower, then last year it was sad and didn't flower at all but seemed to acquire lots of old dead parts. This year however, it is happy and has had this beautiful delicate flower on a weird long stem. It makes me smile that something can be so ugly and so pretty at the same time.

I wish you could all smell the beautiful perfume from these roses. They are Eiffel Towers, once intended for Maree's block only to end up being planted at my place. The smell is divine, they have the best perfume of a pink rose, and my lovely yellow Fuschia rose has the best perfume for a yellow rose.

I don't think there is any better way to start the New Year than with some lovely flowers from the garden. The weather has been kinder this year, lavishing us with rain and the bees have been busy little fellas. May it continue.

2012 Starter

2012-01-14T14:04:00.002+11:00

It's been too long since I was here.

I have decided, without reasons and excuses for time away from here, that I won't try and catch up. I will just go on from here, otherwise I will be chasing my tail for months to come. I will however, go back from time to time when I find photos I haven't used. Like the gorgeous ones in my garden this spring, and things I've made.

But for today, this is the commitment to the start for 2012. My friends make so many beautiful craftings that I love to share with you all. Sometimes it just doesn't happen, but for now I have good intentions and a little more mojo.

Happy New Year, let's ask the universe for a year of love, kindness, peace, and happiness.

October 2010 craft

2011-08-13T17:32:00.001+10:00

This is a beebop cardi I made for Georgie. I started on the trip to Phuket on the plane and finished it on the plane on the way home. It's Washed Haze cotton and looks great on her. The only saga involved with it was when the air hostess tipped a cup of orange juice all over me, including my crocheting!

Kathy made this amazing blanket.

and Chris was still knitting this scarf, but she was checking if it was long enough (see it's still on the needle).

Hats and scarves for Ley in India.

Tea Ceremony part 3

2011-08-13T17:07:00.001+10:00

Alice and Stan received tea next and then everyone else there followed.

Here we are with the happy couple. Just for the record, my outfit shopping was done at the Very Last Minute because our summer fashions hadn't arrived into the shops. I was having a panic, but eventually found a lovely silk top for the beach ceremony and this outfit came from Kathryn Hammerton's in Beechworth, a black linen and patterned georgette type fabric dress with a short bolero jacket. It wasn't glitzy (but neither am I) but I felt stylish.

Here is a photo of Peggy looking lovely with her Mum whose top and shawl were beautiful, and her Aunty whose gold jacket was also stunning.

and the cake which had lovely fresh fruit for edible decoration (the bride and groom weren't edible, hehe!)

and here are Peggy and Rick cutting the cake.

The venue for the Tea Ceremony was at one of Hong Kong's universities.

Tea Ceremony part 2

2011-08-13T16:43:00.001+10:00

Peggy's very respected grandparents were the first to receive tea and in exchange to give their gift in a red envelope. Grandfather doesn't speak English, and there was concern that he wouldn't be well enough to understand what was happening, but he obviously did, as he won me with the most polite "How do you do" when I first arrived and went to shake hands with him.

And then the other grandmother received tea.

Then it was Mal and my turn.

Rick said when handing over the red envelope it was customary to offer words of wisdom which he is doing.

Tea Ceremony part 1

2011-08-13T16:38:00.001+10:00

We went to Hong Kong especially for the Tea Ceremony. Peggy wanted to include her elderly relatives who couldn't travel, especially her grandparents. This was a dressed up occasion and she wore a beautiful lace cheongsam.

The boys talked shop (haha!).

This is the back of Peggy's frock showing the beautiful fabric and her lovely slim figure.

Fireworks on Hong Kong Harbour

2011-08-13T16:23:00.000+10:00

As it was China's National Day, there were fireworks that night.
Alice's Aunty and Uncle very kindly offered for us to go to their apartment on the 32nd floor and watch them as they live near Deception Bay, and have a magnificent view right down Hong Kong Harbour. The photos are blurry as I didn't have a very good camera, but I've put them here so you can see what a wonderful view we had, taking up their kind offer.

on to Hong Kong

2011-08-13T16:01:00.002+10:00

We left Phuket, Mal, Tim and I, Rick and Peggy and headed to Hong Kong for the Tea Ceremony.
We've been there before, but this time I wanted to go on the Harbour Ferry.

As it turned out, Alice and Stan were booked on the same flight as us, and very kindly spent the next few days being our guides for what was once their hometown. Here they are in front of the bauhinia flower, the emblem of Hong Kong where earlier a service had been conducted on the red carpet. It was China National Day, a public holiday and many shops were closed.

So much noise and bustle after the quiet of Phuket.

We went up to Victoria Point. It was a 1-1/2 hour wait for a bus, so we caught a taxi. I would like to point out that I was booked in on my return home to have a full knee replacement. After hiking round Hong Kong's public transport systems with our guides, I definitely needed it.

Last day in Thailand

2011-08-13T14:51:00.002+10:00

I went to Phuket with a desire to bring home some Thai silk, after all it was Thailand we were visiting. It's not that easy. After searching and finding none, on our last day we went into Phuket Town and Penny, Mal and I searched the several blocks of shops in the old town for Thai silk.......to no avail. Then one of the taxidrivers told me he could take us to a department store which sold it, so off we went with him. For a very cheap price it saved us a lot of fruitless searching. It was a 'department' store like I had been used to years before when we lived in Singapore, and Thai silk was plentiful then. There wasn't a very large choice, but as it appears it isn't on any other visitor's shopping list, I was able to get some bargains. Hooray.
Here I am standing in a very pleasant park like spot next to a canal when we arrived in Phuket Town.

The other beautiful souvenir that I came home with was pearls. The boys spent a day biking around and the kids were settled in kids' club and napping 1/2 hour drive away, so I spent all day at the resort, sitting around the pool and crocheting (cotton yarn, bolero for Georgie), which wasn't an issue, but I was all by myself (didn't fancy hitting the markets by myself, there's no fun in that). I think Mal felt guilty I was by myself and during their bike trip went looking for some pearls. He found such a bargain that he couldn't resist buying a string of beautiful black freshwater pearls and a string of beautiful white ones. Everyone was so impressed with the quality and the price that Dan went back to the same place to get some for Penny. I felt very spoilt!

This is such a favourite and relaxing view of Katathani from one of the restaurants.

We lunched there on our last day, soaking up the relaxing atmosphere.

We'd love to go back for another holiday. It wouldn't ever be the same as this one, with The Wedding and so many friends, but the place is easy to get around, interesting, clean and the locals are friendly without being over-pesty. And the prices mean you don't blow your budget!

Cashews

2011-08-13T14:22:00.001+10:00

We were good tourists and visited the cashew factory. That yellow pear-like fruit tied to the machine is a cashew fruit. The lady is shelling the nuts.

Then our bus driver took us to a modern shopping centre.

Lo and behold, my favourite shop!

Elephant ride

2011-08-13T14:11:00.001+10:00

I found this a very unpleasant experience.
Mother and baby chained to her.

James looks like he enjoyed it as much as Granma. There is no photo of me on the elephant because my face just had a look of terror/horror most of the time. I didn't enjoy the ride, the conditions or the plight of the elephants.

Our 'driver' asked Mal if he would like to take over. Mal said it was the most uncomfortable thing to do.

Tim and Georgie were on an elephant whose mind was on something else altogether, it didn't want to stick to the path and kept detouring into the bushes.

We paid our money, so maybe the elephants and those drivers ate well for another week.

On the way to

2011-08-13T13:58:00.001+10:00

On another bus trip we went up the hill again. The topiary type trees are growing along the middle of many of the main roads, and the Aussie tourists are to be found EVERYWHERE. Patong could well be called 'Little Oz'.

Market researchers nab you when you aren't expecting it also. This is evidence that someone who shall remain nameless stripped down to a singlet! Unheard of ever before.

And there are often tourists blocking the best view.

Alice's birthday

2011-08-13T13:50:00.001+10:00

It was Alice's birthday while we were in Phuket, so the family had dinner at Kata.

This was outside the restaurant when we finished dinner.........I was amazed that everywhere we went was so clean, meaning it didn't smell like many of the other hot humid places we've been to.

Seafood lunch continued

2011-08-13T13:35:00.001+10:00

The waiter brought special Winnie-the-Pooh and Hello Kitty sets for the kids, James wasn't impressed that it wasn't Thomas the Tank Engine until he realised that Georgie had Hello Kitty and that wasn't her favourite but she was happy, and it was sure more special than the white plates the rest of us had for our food!

Now, very important is that you look behind James at the table set with cloth and accessories, it's just outside the roof line, on the terrace so to speak.

Then came the rain, and the fishing village was no longer visible.

Tim is now standing next to where James was sitting (James did not have beer for lunch) and look at the table that was behind him now that the storm has come! It's being totally swamped by the water from the downpipe. The same thing happened to another table of local people further inside the restaurant........they weren't impressed! And it's not that it doesn't rain pretty regularly almost every day at the same time.

Seafood lunch part 1

2011-08-13T13:24:00.001+10:00

We asked the driver of our small bus to take us to a good seafood restaurant for lunch. A quick look at what was on the menu......

and a wonderful table right next to the water. A quick read of the menu......

and a chat about the fishing village out on the water......

continued........

The Big Buddha

2011-08-13T13:14:00.001+10:00

We went for a few trips involving a small bus full of family and friends which was fun. We went to visit the Big Buddha, still under construction--Georgie loved this visit, she was very awed by the 'spiritualness' of the place; and we bought tiles and wrote our names on them, to be included in the finished statue.

Buddha has stunning views all round.

There is simplicity and serenity in a simple water garden. These are common and I would have loved to bring home a pot to make my own.

That's Buddha, almost up in the clouds.

Feel free to think very hot and humid!

The Wedding part 3

2011-08-13T12:14:00.000+10:00

This was such a nice gesture from some of Peggy and Rick's friends.........we all walked from the reception across the grass and down to the beach and they lit huge lanterns made of rice paper which we had seen every night floating across the sky on the breeze. We were able to watch it float away on the breeze for such a long time; wishing them good luck and happiness together long in to the future wherever they go.

I should mention here that during the Christmas holidays when G and J were visiting we took them to see the movie Tangled, the story of Rapunzel, and a very important part of Rapunzel's memory of her family from when she was small involved a sky full of 'lanterns', and G was able to understand completely having seen them in Phuket floating across the sky. It's not something we experience here in Oz because of our likelihood of bush fire!

The Wedding part 2

2011-08-13T12:00:00.000+10:00

Phi Phi trip

2011-02-19T14:34:00.001+11:00

These are some of the little coloured fish that the snorkellers saw.

Approaching Phi Phi Island resort. This is where 2000 people were lost/died in the sunami.

We had a delicious buffet lunch here.

The Wedding!

2011-01-23T13:14:00.002+11:00

We went to Phuket for 'The Wedding' and it was the most beautiful setting on the beach at Kata Noi late in the afternoon. The sky wasn't as serious as it looked, it was hot but not scorching, and the whole occasion was wonderful; so beautiful, so peaceful, so joyful and happy and very, very memorable. There was family and there were dear friends, some without whom it wouldn't have been the same.

tuk tuks, coconuts, sunsets and family

2011-01-23T12:58:00.001+11:00

The kids loved the little tuk tuks........

and they love the fresh coconut drinks........

and the amazing sunsets.......

but best of all they love playing with uncles, they don't get to see them often enough!

Phi Phi island trip

2011-01-23T12:52:00.001+11:00

On the next island you find this 'camp' where these people live and wait for the bird nests (I think that is what we were told), obviously valuable.

And at the next island the monkeys know the boats come with food, slices of watermelon were thrown to them. I hope they get a variety of fruit, as each boat visited with fruit to bring them down close.

Snorkelling. Mal and Tim in the middle of pic.

Umbrellas and deck chairs. Very much needed in the afternoon sun. You had to pay for them of course as well as the toilets. The islands are national park so nothing is allowed to be permanent. Rubbish has to be cleaned up and removed every day.

Phi Phi islands

2011-01-23T12:44:00.001+11:00

We set off on a trip to the very beautiful Phi Phi Island and surrounding islands. You've guessed already who this is I know. He might look ok, but his head wasn't feeling quite that good after a very late night!

Our boat reversed into this beach and we were all able to swim. The water was warm (it was quite horrendously filled with plastic bags as well, (and I have quite a horror of things touching my legs in the water) so I swam up the other end a bit further away from the hundreds of people who were all here because the tide was right.

This was a spot of dreams, and tv shows of course! There is an island a little further away which is called James Bond Island as it was used in one of the movies. The beach is very sheltered by the rocky outcrops, and the water really is aqua.

Let's establish just who I'm with

2011-01-23T11:23:00.001+11:00

Before I go any further, let's establish just who it is I'm here with. MY FAMILY!
First day at breakfast, here are my sons.........and the world's tiniest banana! That's son no2 with the banana, and probably just as well, son no1 is hiding behind the quickly produced paper. I had the feeling many frustrating photo scenes were likely to follow.

We took a bus into Phuket town to the market, and had lunch across the road........you've guessed it, with sons again!

........and again, and yes he knew I was taking the photo.

So did the other son who could only manage a surprised look.......he's slipping! I should say here that from the time he was very little he's been 'the clown' in photos!

The lunch however, was delicious and the company enjoyable. Then we went to shop!

I'd never dreamed..................

2011-01-23T11:04:00.002+11:00

I'd never dreamed of taking a holiday in Phuket..........Thailand just seemed way too hot and............jungley! My aunty (a very 'proper' lady) had been there several decades ago and didn't seem to be very impressed at all..........that's a whole story that you have to have by word of mouth! But as you can see, here we are, in Phuket and shopping at Kata Beach, so those of you who have been there will recognise the area.

The resort where we stayed, Katathani, was further along the right fork in the road, at Kata Noi Beach, but this is the spot where you turned left to climb the mountain for a FABULOUS view and some interesting restaurants.

Having lived a little while in Singapore and visited a few other countries, we are always fascinated by the infrastructure, especially the electrics. How can you not wonder about systems like this???

This villa is on the way up the hill from the bay with the most stunning view..........maybe it will be available next time ;)

A real square

2011-01-23T10:57:00.001+11:00

I have a passion for making squares. I've been in several Crochet-a-longs to make squares and also several swaps. These are all squares which went to swap partners.

This one was done as a washer.

Indigo swap from my partner

2011-01-23T10:51:00.001+11:00

This is the absolutely beautiful parcel I received from my partner. There was a card with old buttons, a skein of pure cashmere from ArtYarns and two lovely bags.

This little bag is beaded and sooooo tiny. It can certainly be worn as a necklace.

The larger project bag is made from wool blanketing with the most beautiful stumpwork embroidery of an owl in the moonlight.

This has indeed taken a lot of work and I love it all.

Indigo swap parcel for my partner

2011-01-23T10:47:00.001+11:00

You may think, after all the swap parcels you see on here, that I should join a swapaholics group. It can become a bit of an addiction, I admit. But there are many swaps that pass by without my joining in, I choose carefully so that I am well able to fulfil my commitments. Taking my commitments seriously is a virtue I was taught, one I value, and one I have tried to teach my kids, and grandkids also. I just wish that's how it was with everyone.

This was a 'luxury' swap, meant to spoil one's partner. For my partner I made a project bag as she said she liked them, and not having much in her stash I included some commercial Zara yarn, sock yarn and some handdyed by me silk and wool. I had to do the dye process twice because of the silk to achieve the depth of colour, but in the end I was very happy with the colours and my partner loved them.

This was my first try at making stitchmarkers, I was quite pleased with the result.

I made a pair of Fetching fingerless gloves. This is a great pattern.

The Japanese-fabric project bag had special bear buttons on the ends of the ties as a special embellishment for my partner who said she loved it all.

Laceweight

2011-01-23T10:25:00.001+11:00

This is the laceweight yarn I spun from some beautiful Pear Tree fibre I bought at Bendigo Woolshow. It was for one of the ladies in my birthday swap group.

I was thrilled with the result.

Square fever and Albury HWSG birthday

2011-01-23T10:18:00.001+11:00

More swap squares, and a quick pic of the 'Sharing Day' and Albury-Wodonga's 40th birthday bash.

more Clap

2011-01-23T10:09:00.001+11:00

The beginning of several more 'claps'.

This one is mine and I have hoodwinked some lovely Wendy Happy yarn which was gifted to me to try knitting cool socks for my hot feet. I don't feel guilty at all, it's going to be deeeeevine around my neck!

And several squares I've made for my partner in the 6" square swap that I've joined.

Clapotis

2011-01-23T10:07:00.002+11:00

Rachel kindly came and gave us clear instructions on starting our Clapotis (a French name for a very versatile scarf/shawl). As you can see it involves lots and lots of stitchmarkers!

Ladders and Wombats

2011-01-23T10:05:00.002+11:00

I'm glad it's only craft people who read my blog, otherwise some things would take quite some explaining.

This is a clapotis with the ladders being opened up.

This is a wombat jacket being knitted.

This is a wombat jacket finished and being worn by Elke.

and more ladders

2011-01-22T11:46:00.001+11:00

Miss G is crocheting

we all received beautiful chained necklaces..........

As it was Woolshow time, I helped Penny with her Try Dyeing stall at Bendigo, where she had been invited to demonstrate the blocking of knitted and crocheted items. She sells blocking wires in sets and there were many interested people.

J is 3

2010-12-19T14:56:00.001+11:00

Little Mister J was 3 in July and wanted a 'Henry cake'. He's watching very carefully that Mummy is making it to specifications!

Yes, he hasn't moved from his supervisor position.

Henry is finished with the approval of the 2 experts.

And after much singing and candleblowing Henry is about to be devoured!
It was a happy 3 year old birthday.

Vale Nell 1918-2010

2010-12-19T14:48:00.001+11:00

This is a lovely photo of my Mum, Nell, taken on her 91st birthday, and how I like to remember her, wearing one of her beautiful woollen handspun, handknitted jumpers. She suffered little strokes and became increasingly frailer this year and passed away on 7th July 2010, 6 weeks before her 92nd birthday. I couldn't wish her back to continue suffering, but it does mean the end of many family links for me, now I don't have anyone to talk with about the memories of my childhood. For over 60 years she's been in my life, she lived with us at Silver Creek for 23 years, and it's strange that she's not here any more. I still have an Aunty, Mum's younger sister, but it's also a wake up that I'm now the 'older generation' and that's not comfortable.

Mum admired people who made it to 90, she especially admired those who were able to continue being active. I'm delighted for her that she reached and passed that milestone, and continued to be active until her last 6 months. I think it speaks for itself that there were over 70 people at her funeral in our small town on a wet winter's day, and 68 were friends. We have very few family of our own, but do have wonderful in-laws, however I appreciated so much that so many good, caring friends came. If you were one of them, thank you.

Goodbye Mum, you'll be so very sadly missed, and so will all your beautiful and perfect crafting.

Absence

2010-12-19T14:13:00.002+11:00

There hasn't been any blogging here for quite a few months. I haven't been able to write and I needed to. I feel I need to say goodbye to my Mum who passed away in July after 4 months of becoming more and more frail in aged care. I'd like to do this before 2010 finishes.

a visit from Jack Frost

2010-08-07T17:29:00.001+10:00

Silver Creek is well known for it's frost. This is the garden bed where I planted my calendula seeds. The wire is a small attempt to protect them from the ever-foraging peacocks.

and looking across the 'backyard' I think it was a little frosty to hang out the washing so early.

The early morning sun just seemed to reflect off the frost across the grass. Aren't trees the most wonderful plants, they give shade and frost protection!

It's hard to see, but the callistemon right next to the window is covered in frost.

My crafting friends

2010-08-07T16:29:00.002+10:00

Chris and Pam check out this pretty patchwork.

and the knitting continues........maybe another wombat jacket sample?

This is my 'Time with Mum' Scarf, crocheted from some beautiful Aust Country Spinners 4ply wool yarn while I visited Mum at the Hostel in the afternoons.

and my MIL, Melva created this gorgeous crocheted green owl teacosy for a Ravelry friend of mine.

mmmm, red bolero

2010-08-07T16:25:00.001+10:00

This is the red bolero I made for Georgia, who has discovered she loves red, and doesn't love wool yarn, acrylic is her favourite so it's knitted from Zhivago . I knitted some of it while visiting Mum in the aged care Hostel, but talking and knitting holes in the right place are not 2 things I can do together, so I had to leave it at home when I was undoing more than I was knitting on my visits. However, I finished it and was able to take it to show Mum it would be perfect for Georgia.

And the model seems to like it........

..............or at least likes modelling it!

autumn that came to me

2010-08-07T16:10:00.001+10:00

It's been a while since I've rambled about the passion I have for crocheting squares this year. Here are some I did for a swap.
When I get mine altogether in a 'scrappy' afghan I know it's going to be very rewarding and lovely. I've taken on this challenge to improve my pattern reading skills (esp crochet patterns) and I think it's slowly working. I'm not daunted by a crochet pattern any more!

And this is the autumn swap that my swap partner, Marilla, sent to me. The beautiful autumn coloured sock yarn may well become socks one day, but for now, the handknit red towel is being used in the bathroom.

Another Monday

2010-06-26T11:44:00.002+10:00

Dawn was finishing off her baby outfit for a friend

Chris practised Van Dyke crochet (other versions are called Chevron)

Look at this beautiful leaf and trellis pattern by Pam

Pam has also been dyeing yarn with Landscape Dyes

WWKIP Day 2010

2010-06-26T11:38:00.001+10:00

Our World Wide Knit in Public Day event was organised by our NEVYL Group on Ravelry.com and was held at K2TOG in Albury.
We gathered and we knitted, although there are actually way more people than would fit in the shot.

Jenny from K2TOG Albury kindly organised a speed knitting competition

here are the finalists knitting off

and a blindfolded knitting competition.

Barbara from Shepparton, who's been knitting (English style on straight needles) for 72 years, won both.

It was a great day and Maree and I shared the lucky door prize, as she drew out both our tickets!

Always making something

2010-06-26T11:29:00.001+10:00

Ok, so I'm always making something. This is one of the very versatile shiroshimi knot bags that I make to 'package' my handspun yarn when it's being swapped, gifted or even purchased.

World Wide Knit in Public Day was approaching and the journalist for the Albury-Wodonga News Express was coming to take pics to write an article. She got her dates mixed and couldn't make it so we took the pics she wanted and sent them off, several to appear in the newspaper with an article:

autumn creations

2010-05-29T15:12:00.002+10:00

I have spun and dyed this yarn, especially suitable for socks for my autumn swap parcel. I love the colour, it is exactly the colour of all the beautiful autumn leaves on the trees. Beechworth is looking spectacular with autumn colour this year, so I've called it 'Autumn in Beechworth". I was very hesitant about dyeing and getting it right. It's quite a while since I've done this type of dyeing, but I was really pleased with it.

And I've been sewing. I made a large project bag (lined with red)

and a very small project bag, also lined with red. I love this fabric, it's a naive style like the Villeroy and Boch plates I love so much. And apples and pears signifying Beechworth's harvest, and Chinese coin buttons on the drawstring as I live at the once-named Old Chinaman's Flat Goldfield.

My sewing machine (the super dooper new computerised Husqvarna that I haven't had any lessons on yet even though I've had it for a couple of years) didn't want to play ball with the buttonholes and it wasn't until I seriously threatened to get out my old machine (darn, that would be an effort) and do the buttonholes that it blinked it's light and behaved properly.

Crochet by any name

2010-05-29T15:07:00.002+10:00

This is Chris' specialty and she showed us the secrets one Monday.

Spectacular done in all colours.

And now that Fran has mastered lace, she's making lovely lacy socks.

Wombat Jacket KAL

2010-05-29T14:58:00.001+10:00

Hard at work making samples are Daphne, all the way from Melbourne, Annie from Benalla, Joy, Natalie and Pam wearing her old faithful nearly worn out red wombat jacket.

Maree and Elke started on their full size jackets.

Using circular needles you start by knitting a triangle

which looks like this on a straight needle.

The famous Wombat Jacket KAL begins

2010-05-29T14:26:00.001+10:00

We have been wanting to do another wombat jacket. Pam's done at least 5 so she did the lesson.

The wombat jacket is an Aussie version of Meg Swanson's badger jacket. This is how it starts.

Lace and Dora's Day Out

2010-05-29T14:18:00.001+10:00

Fran can knit lace!

This is her beautiful sampler to prove it.

Our spinning group was invited to Dora's Day Out at Seymour. This is an invite only day, and is now hosted by the Seymour group as Dora has got older. It was a wonderful day, lots of friends and some of the most beautiful craft. Maree, Pam and I went along.

and this came home with us from the op shop next door. We took it out at Pam's while John wasn't looking.

Try Dyeing Stall at Canberra

2010-05-29T14:14:00.001+10:00

Penny had a stall at the Woolly Day at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Canberra in the middle of May. I went to help. This is the Try Dyeing kit section.

And this is the niddy noddy and handspun section, with Nana's owl teacosies being picked up by everyone who came by, they were a big attraction, and we also sold some.

The stall was successful and there should be a lot of new dyers out there.

Birthday Goodies 2010

2010-05-29T14:07:00.001+10:00

Here's a shockingly bad closeup of the lovely wristlets. The pattern matches the socks! I smell collusion!

And my third swap parcel with a cute cat, some alpaca fibre to spin and a soft, handspun, handknitted beanie.

And then my fourth parcel with lots of goodies, including a hook, some smooshy angora and a beautifully knitted scarf.

Birthday Goodies 2010

2010-05-29T14:06:00.001+10:00

While I was in Sydney minding Georgie and James, my lovely Ravelry friend Wynn came to visit on my birthday with this beautiful gift. She is very encouraging about me knitting socks. Not a favourite of mine as I've always had hot feet, I've really only knitted one (ok so I use it for Santa). But this is such lovely yarn I'll have to try. And just my colour fibre to spin, I wonder how she knew???
We had a lovely afternoon chatting while the kids played.

Then the ladies in my birthday swap group sent parcels. More lovely fibre to spin, and squeeeee lovely lacy wristlets.

And squeeeeee again, my very first pair of handknitted socks and some yummies including not 1 but 2 skeins of Lorna's Laces yarn.

The socks fit perfectly. It's very hard to take a flattering photo of your foot. I have since met the lovely lady who made my first pair of handknitted socks.

Weekend baby jacket

2010-05-29T13:59:00.001+10:00

Making this jacket (supposed to be possible in 5 hours!) was a project for one of our Mondays.

Square squared

2010-05-29T13:55:00.001+10:00

I'm doing some Crochet-a-longs this year, making squares. This one was done for charity.

And these 2 are the April squares received from a 'square dance', along with the most gorgeous and beautifully made little project bag from Lynne in Tassie. I feel very spoilt.

Georgia is 6

2010-05-29T13:15:00.001+10:00

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you....
Daddy and Aunty Megan light the candles

There are the 6 fingers

and the giggle

and the blow and wish

Happy birthday dear Georgie, happy birthday to you.

This was the 'family' birthday party with grandparents and great grandparents, aunty and uncle.

Ravelry Pink Swap

2010-05-29T13:10:00.001+10:00

I was very pleased with this pink yarn that I spun for the pink swap.

And here was my swap before it was wrapped up, with the most gorgeous owl fabric that I found and made into a needle wrap and crochet hook wrap.

Melva made this owl teacosy for me to include. Owl teacosies have been her specialty
since the 70s and I think my swap partner loved it. I have had lots of comments about how much people love it.

This was the lovely swap parcel I received with a beautiful knitted scarf.

Easter

2010-05-29T13:01:00.002+10:00

We went to see Mum at the hostel and Annie picked roses from the garden

And I found her a cheeping chicken which has amused many. I'm not looking extra chubby, it's just that Mum has lost so much weight and become so frail none of her favourite clothes fit properly any more and she has gone down 3 dress sizes. Needless to say I haven't!

It really cheeps like a chicken!

Visitors

2010-05-29T11:25:00.002+10:00

A few weeks after I got Mum to the aged care hostel, my dear MIL Melva came to visit, and then just before Easter our friends of 40 years Annie and Bob came also.

Here are Annie and Melva at the Cosy Kangaroo cafe at Bright waiting for lunch

with Maree, and myself of course behind the camera.

When it came, Melva decided their eyes were bigger than her tummy! This iced coffee was absolutely enormous.

Needless to say someone enjoyed it all :)

Sew sew..........

2010-05-29T10:59:00.003+10:00

Once again my talented friends at the Patchwork Shop sewing night...

Tomato girl and my Rover

2010-05-29T10:56:00.002+10:00

Hehehe, don't you just love it when fruit and vegies have a sense of humour!
Tomato Girl!

It was time to say goodbye to 'Granma's Big Blue Car' which the kids have always loved, I think because they sit so high they can actually see out of the back, even in car seats. She has gone to a family in Kinglake who lost their house, car and horses in the Black Saturday fires. I hope the favourite car relationship works for them as it did for me. I loved my big blue car.

2010-05-25T10:06:00.003+10:00

I'm finally back! Just calling in to say that life interrupted the blogging.

After getting Penny and the kids and the two cars full of Christmas goodies back to Sydney in January, I noticed over the next couple of weeks how much more Mum was unable to do things and struggling to just get up every day and also to cope with the pain in her shoulder. I felt things were going downhill at an alarming rate and Mal, Maree and I all felt she had suffered another small stroke which made it difficult for her to walk as well.

I was facing a busy year with times when I had to be away for several weeks minding the grandkids and helping Penny and going to Rick and Peggy's wedding. I didn't feel respite care was going to look after mum all those times, so I asked for another assessment and that afternoon in answer to my prayers, I was offered a room at the aged care hostel at the local hospital. So at the beginning of March, with Mum not really understanding what was happening, we moved her there. She was not happy! She displayed behaviour quite uncharacteristic of her, but we now know it was related to illness and medication. She has had another stroke since then which has really depleted her ability to move around and made her very dependent. It was a blessing for all of us that there was a place in care for her and she is well looked after and reasonably happy now.

At the end of April I went to Sydney for a couple of weeks to mind Georgie and James while their Mum and Dad were away overseas for Dan's work. They were good kids and we got through our busy time of school cross-country, swimming for both, ju-jitsu for our little ninja G, tucker time (or cake day with G's class sending the cakes) at school, reading helper for Granma at school, mother's day stall at school, my birthday and mother's day. And that let Mal out of a big saga for our 40th (ruby) wedding anniversary as well.

Then having been home for 2 days I went off to Canberra to help Penny with a stall at the Wool Day at the Old Bus Depot Markets. And we are planning on one at Bendigo in July.

I'd like to thank my friends who called in to see Mum so she had some visitors while I was away, and to say that Maree has done above and beyond the call of very best friend duty! She is the surrogate daughter, and Mum thinks she is a very good one.

I have decided that I need to jump in and get the blog running again as we have done a bit of crafting as well.

a Monday in February 2010

2010-02-27T14:47:00.001+11:00

We had a birthday cake for Dawn . . .

We do actually get some spinning done sometimes . . .

Maybe some knitting . . .

and we always share . . . especially help.

Magic loop, Noro, handspun and necessity

2010-02-27T13:12:00.000+11:00

This year at Spinning Group we are going to concentrate on learning new techniques. They don't have to be spinning techniques, and we started off with one that we've been looking forward to learning. Fran showed us how to use magic loop, and to knit two socks at a time (for those who are sock knitters!). We started with a little bag.

I had many interruptions that afternoon, so concentration was very difficult and you can see the bottom of my bag is less than perfect. There are several holes and this means it's not the correct shape either. But when the interruptions stopped and I could concentrate without phones and doorbells, I got the hang of it. Thanks Fran!

This is another one for Fran, as this is her beautiful Noro yarn scarf (in her fave colour, green) in a very effective pattern.

I spun some autumn wool for a friend, Tanja. We are trading my spinning for some knitting she will do for me. That's a good trade! Tanja wanted an organic-look/feel yarn for freeform knit/crochet for a seasonal table. The fibre is from First Editions, Euroa and lovely colours and quality as usual.

And in case you are ever in this situation, and start to take the yarn off the niddy noddy before you realise you need to wash and block it, and it is i.m.p.o.s.s.i.b.l.e. to get back onto the niddy noddy without rewinding it all, necessity is said to be the mother of invention:

more treats

2010-02-20T15:23:00.001+11:00

I love scrappy quilts, and I'm saving my scraps. Maybe one day!

I was going to do hexagons, but these look hard........

they really do look wonderful though. I'll think about it a bit longer. Yelena, Pam and Bev are good inspiration, but procrastination wins. Nothing to do with the 6 (cough, cough) half-made quilts in the craft room at all!

Patchwork treats

2010-02-20T15:16:00.001+11:00

Leonie is making this beautiful 'Beechworth' themed quilt

Here's Ned Kelly...

....and the golden horseshoes

Watch for updates. It will be a stunner when it's all done.

They're back!!!

2010-02-20T14:41:00.001+11:00

They are back again. The cockies. Summer and the dandelions are flowering. I took this pic from just outside our loungeroom window. They were aware I was there, but while I stayed under the trees they didn't feel threatened.

It's usually just on dusk when they come down and you can see the sun almost setting in this photo. We have no fruit left on our trees, and they have lined the chestnuts in their sites.

There's usually between 60-70 in the flock. You can see the grass has dried out, but since I took this pic a couple of weeks ago, we've had lovely rain during the night and it's much greener now.

And then they go to the pond on the other side of the house and you can see some on guard in the trees and a group at the edge of the pond drinking. It is usually just coming on to sunset, and then the noisy critters go further 'down the back' and roost in the gums there. They squabble and squawk during the night and then are 10 times as noisy in the morning about 6am, when they fly back over the house squawking and then around the town. I'm not sure whether they follow the ridge of the hills along during the day, they can usually be found in a flock down in the valley, but there will often be several flying around calling during the day.

Spinning group has started for 2010

2010-02-20T14:23:00.001+11:00

Everything has started again after the summer holiday break, and while we've been in recess Fran has knitted this lovely fine shawl

Now headless photos are not my thing, but by request I have complied. I know my photography isn't photo-shopped like most other, but...

We have new chickens, which came from a poultry auction in time for Georgie and James to have fun collecting eggs and visiting them at Christmas--I can't say enough how much they love doing this. We have a lovely silver lace wyandotte hen and chicks, pekin bantams, australorps and barnevelders. (apologies for any names spelt incorrectly), and look at the variety of egg colours: white, pink, khaki and blue eggs from them.

And a lovely cheerful pic of 'Georgie's Sunflowers', which unfortunately didn't flower while she was visiting. I'll have to plant much earlier next year.

Up-to-date

2010-01-30T23:15:00.002+11:00

My blog hasn't been updated since October when I struck a technical hitch re photos. The problem has been solved and I have spent several days sorting photos and bringing things up-to-date.

I find when reading other folks' blogs that life happens and things get in the way, but I'm pleased it is all current now so that you can peek at the lovely creations and interesting craft that happen around Silver Creek and sometimes further afield.

Best wishes to all who visit here for a 2010 that is happy and creative.

Patchwork evening 28/1/10

2010-01-30T16:16:00.002+11:00

Bev's 'gardener hands' are now intricately sewing hexagons

Liz was finishing off a scarf with yarn purchased at the Woolly Day at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Canberra

Maree was casting off a fine grey ruffled scarf-shawl

Elke was diligently sewing a pleated log cabin square

FurrywithRuffles visits

2010-01-30T16:14:00.002+11:00

The Audax Alpine Bike Classic has just been held in Bright, and one of our Ravelry friends from WA came with her husband, so a few of us got together with her to drink coffee and knit/crochet.

Here are Fran and myself with Helen

It was a really hot day, but we managed to find a cool spot by the river.

Birthday party

2010-01-30T16:11:00.002+11:00

Penny requested some gluten-free cup cakes for her birthday cake, and I had very willing helpers for the choosing of the patty pans and the decorations.

We sang happy birthday

and when the candle was blown out there were willing helpers to distribute the correct colour cakes to the correct recipient

In other words, James had the cakes with blue patty pans and freckles on top!

Birthday trip to Euroa

2010-01-30T16:08:00.002+11:00

For her actual birthday 'day' Penny asked if we could visit Euroa with a trip to First Edition Fibre and Yarn so she could check out what was there.

We stopped in Euroa, and Georgia modelled the Roundabout Shrug that I had made her.

We all enjoyed our fish and chip lunch, and our trip to First Edition.

The vegie garden finally in full swing

2010-01-30T15:52:00.002+11:00

My vegie garden has been an ongoing saga for years. It is finally finished, except for some fine tuning, and 1 more garden bed.

You can see the carrots and the peas have done extremely well. And the basket in the front of the photo belonged to my Nanna, so the kids know it is precious as it was their great-great grandmother's, but is just right for collecting the eggs and a few vegies, just as my Nanna used it. It lives near the door and Georgie and James now remember to take it with them when they collect the eggs (their favourite activity over anything else on the farm). They love the chickens, and after the fox depleted our chookyard by digging
under the gate a few months ago, we restocked
before Christmas and now have over 2 dozen hens and chickens and 1 bantam rooster. The kids just love them.

The tomatoes have become enormous and are full of fruit.

The 2 cucumber plants have done themselves proud, along with the potatoes.

Tim and I like broadbeans, so I planted 4 seeds.
Just look at these!
Next to them are the sunflowers and the French
beans. The butternut pumkins are doing well.
The jap pumpkins are crossed off the list.

Finally, the wire fence is keeping the peacocks out of the vegie garden. Now to work on the blackbirds, the sparrows and the slugs!

Look at this pile of pressies!

2010-01-30T15:48:00.002+11:00

Miss 5 has on her IPod and Master 2 is starting on the pile of Thomas the Tank Engines. And the big pile in the background is still to be handed out--but--there was a whole house full of us!

And even though our youngest is all grown up now, it only seems like yesterday he was little, so I put his photo in as well.

Presents, presents, everywhere, and Master 2 did keep asking for more, but he also thoroughly enjoyed them as he opened them.

Miss 5 had her own dress up department in this pile.

And a very happy day was enjoyed by all at our house.

Spinning Group Christmas party

2010-01-30T15:29:00.002+11:00

For the Kris Kringle for our Spinning Group Christmas party I decided to make my version of a spinners lap mat that I had seen on a blog. I used the baize-type non-slip back vinyl, added a slightly gathered pocket on each side to hold comb, flicker, oil for wheel, fibre to spin etc and an elastic strip to hang scissors etc in and bound all the edges. I hope it is useful.

Here we all are, some with partners also enjoying our meal at the Nicholas Hotel.

We all enjoy the break over Christmas and the summer holidays, and it is interesting to chat about what we have and haven't done when we resume in February again.

NEVYL Christmas meetup

2010-01-30T15:27:00.003+11:00

Our NE Vic Yarn Lovers Group on Ravelry had a Christmas meet up in Corowa and I've just included a few pics here for those interested.
I made a chocolate Christmas tree for after lunch (which we enjoyed at the Royal Hotel).

And here are the gang who came from Melbourne, with Karen's van of fibre goodies (I had pre-ordered so I didn't miss out)

And some of the other girls who could make it to Corowa

We had a Kris Kringle and George's Mum got the gift I put in and he enjoyed unwrapping the Christmas fabric project bag it was wrapped in.

As usual we did a lot of chatting and had a great day. Most of us started off in the morning at the local craft market.

2010-01-30T15:11:00.001+11:00

Daphne came to spinning, the cat came to Daphne

and stayed

We had a birthday cake for Pam's birthday at the end of November and Fran's birthday at the end of December

1..2....3....blow!

Nature at it's best

2010-01-30T15:08:00.002+11:00

A beautiful sunset,

the evening star

and a vase of my beautiful Freesia Roses

Moving right along now.........

2010-01-30T15:04:00.003+11:00

Fran showed us, one Monday in November, how to make simple (!) little knitted stockings for the Christmas tree...........although this is about how big a stocking full Tiger should have for Christmas in relation to how good/bad he's been

And I finished spinning the Ixchel Waca Paca batt that Georgie chose for me at Bendigo Wool Show (she liked the sparkly bits)

............and speaking of Tiger being good, is this good

or is he really a naughty cat? This was all hanging around waiting to be moved out.

Granma's been busy

2010-01-30T14:58:00.002+11:00

James is tall for his age, mostly his body is long, so often the shop bought clothes don't fit as they should. So I made some shorts for him, blue drill with Thomas on the front, and proper Yakka camo with Thomas tape

and reindeer for Christmas with Percy on the front.

Tiger didn't help at all, and whilst I made dress ups for Georgie, that particular fabric is still waiting to be a creation.

And some more blue drill shorts with Gordon on the front.

I guess you get the idea by now that if it doesn't have someone from Sodor Island on it he won't wear it!

Looking out the window.......

2010-01-30T14:50:00.002+11:00

October and November are just gorgeous times in our garden.

The clematis are flowering............

pink..........

purple..........

the Solomon's Seal is covered with it's tiny dangly white flowers

and the snapdragons are looking spectacular, the only thing not gobbled by the browsing peacocks.

Party dress

2010-01-30T14:45:00.002+11:00

I bought this sweet knitted bolero jacket for Georgie at our Church Fete and she was a bit 'whatever' about it at the time, but it looks so nice with her pink party dress that she is very fond of it now. Here she is with her brother and she is off to a birthday party.

She's keeping his attention on the fact that Mum said stand still for a photo!

...........and this is how twirly her dress really is...........Thomas the Tank Engine, are you paying attention!

Birthday Swap

2010-01-30T14:39:00.002+11:00

This was the last of my Ravelry birthday swaps for 2009 and was for Kristen. She had sent me such a thoughtful, special gift I wanted something a little different for her. When I was at the WoolShow at Bendigo I found some Pear Tree fibre. It was just diiiiiiiviiiiiiine to spin! And in the loveliest of soft greens. I spun it fairly fine, there's 300gms and hopefully it's enough for her to make a nice garment.

I just looooove this fabric, can't believe I found it at Spotlight. I made a 'Shiroshimi Bag' to put the yarn in, added choccies, coffee, notebook and a cute felted elephant.
Birthday swaps are great fun, especially when you get 4 little gifts on your birthday!

Purple Swap, the end of the Rainbow

2010-01-30T14:37:00.002+11:00

I have greatly enjoyed the Rainbow Swaps, for my partner Lizla from Qld, in the purple swap I crocheted a shrug. As she didn't need thick woollies I thought this might be just warm enough. I found a lovely old fashioned lady needle holder which was perfect as she loves Jane Austen, and I was lucky to swap a skein of handspun by Tasknitter, and I made a skein of my own handspun, along with a small project bag. I'm much more fond of bright purple now!

The shrug called Roundabout is made as an enormous circle, then the sleeves are stitched in place and the collar folded back.

Apologies for the uncoordinated colours of the model, but it was a rush photo as I was in Sydney with the family and needed to send off the parcel.
Here is the lovely parcel I received from Sharre, and I have crocheted the silky malabrigo into a neck warmer and have just found lovely buttons to go on it, so a photo will come soon.

Andalusian Weaving part 2

2010-01-26T22:25:00.001+11:00

Jean instructs Pam on setting up and Chris sets up in the background

We only had a limited number of looms so Maree and Daphne got on with some crochet.

Andalusian Weaving lesson Mon Oct 12 2009

2010-01-26T22:23:00.002+11:00

Cathy kindly offered to teach Andalusian Weaving to the Group, and Jean came along with her frame also. How's this for a room full?

Sue watches as Cathy supervises Elke on setting up.

Layers of weaving

October 6, the real thing continued

2010-01-24T23:10:00.002+11:00

James especially enjoyed the icecream

and out of all the photos, this is the only one to show why he enjoyed it so much! If you can't get it onto the spoon, you just put your face into it and take a big bite.

Just wait till his 21st birthday!

October 6, the real thing

2010-01-24T23:07:00.002+11:00

Back in the bicentennial year 1988, on 6th October, we welcomed into our family with much love, a baby boy, Timothy Flint. Here he is 21 years to the day later, having dinner at Sambell's Restaurant at La Trobe Beechworth, and we are proud of the lovely young man he has grown into. His brother taught him well how to pull funny faces for the camera, and his sister has learnt that boys will be boys will be boys.......

A lovely dinner was enjoyed by all

it's good to have family visits

2010-01-24T23:04:00.002+11:00

Every spare space was used as a bedroom with so many family here for the parties, but James knew where the toys were

He plays happily with Great Granny to supervise

And tells her about the Duplo plane (passed on by Uncle Tim)

And Georgie shows Uncle Rick her game and gets help from Aunty Peggy. They are waiting while Tim opens a birthday gift.

Photo album

2010-01-24T22:45:00.002+11:00

With apologies for the rain on the lens, here we all are :

from front left, Nana, Granny, Mum, Dad,

James, Penny, Rick, Tim,

Georgie, Dan, Peggy

And our generation:

Rick, Meryl, Rob, Heather, Mal, Beth

and with Melva as well

and the Rascal, James, up the ladder, with Uncle Rick and Dad there to avoid mishap.

and some of the guests

2010-01-24T22:38:00.002+11:00

The general gathering, tucking in to a bbq tea

What a great photo--Timmo (still with Tina Turner eyeliner), Tim and his girlfriend Caroline, all enjoying the engagement party

Lots of family and Rick and Peggy chatting

It really was quite cold, so the fire was roaring and Maree and the 2 Grandmothers enjoyed the warmth.

The Engagement Party

2010-01-24T22:29:00.002+11:00

The day after Tim's 21st birthday we enjoyed a second party, Peggy and Rick's engagement party. Mal and I met Peggy when we visited Rick during their summer of 2008. She is a lovely girl, and we are delighted to see them both happy. Unfortunately Peggy is Canadian, I say unfortunately, because she doesn't have family here to come back to, although she has family also in Hong Kong.

So, we have food and speeches in the Green Shed with lots of family. We were so pleased to know about the engagement in time to celebrate.

and another lovely cake made by a friend, Terry

And the official cutting of the cake, and next to it you can see the linen and lace runner for signatures and best wishes.

And here is our Little Man, carefully rolling up the signature cloth to take home, because his Mum drew a Thomas the Tank Engine on it for his signature!

meanwhile down on the farm

2010-01-24T22:16:00.002+11:00

We went for a walk down to the creek the day after the party. We have a visiting black wallaby, and a wombat whose home we found...

and a rare glimpse of one of our visiting koalas. We often hear them, but don't often see them.

...they've been waiting for 21yrs to do this......

2010-01-24T19:31:00.002+11:00

It was the big sister and brother turn .....and Tim is thinking, "oh no, this is going to be embarrassing". They have spent his whole life saving things up to tell at just this time.

First, big sister's turn

and then big brother's

Yep, it was embarrassing, but in a good way. Everyone, even Tim, laughed.

He's now free....and can collect embarrassing stories of his own for sister and brother's future birthdays.