Thursday, January 27, 2011

Amethyst Purple Handwarmers




These are straight off the needles. They took an evening to make and they look fabulous I think!
The pattern is the Emerald Green Handwarmers by Creativeyarn but mine aren't exactly green so I went with amethyst. They are knit flat and seamed at the side. I added buttons just because I love buttons and I had some in my extensive button collection that matched perfectly. The uber soft yarn is Patons Australia Zhivago and the pair took less than one 50g ball to make.

Cheers,
Lynda

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

I still call Australia home

 Happy Austalia Day
Our tummies are full, our hearts content as we settle down for the evening as another Australia Day draws to a close.
Today I am thankful -
that my family and I live in Australia, the lucky country, the land down under
that we live in peace and freedom
that Australia is friendly, welcoming and accepting of all nationalities
that we have a laid-back Aussie lifestyle
that our country is big, diverse and beautiful
that we can laugh at ourselves and still remain patriotic
that we have a unique Aussie sense of humour
and that we stand by our mates

And just to demonstrate that Aussies do have a laugh about themselves -
Being Australian is about driving in a German car to an Irish pub for a Belgian beer, then on the way home, grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American shows on a Japanese TV.

"This is an old land
For ever nurtured and nourished
by the spirit of the Rainbow Serpent.
The land of the Darug people,
Of the Darginung and the Dharawal,
The Gundungurra and the Guringai.
An old land.
This is the new land of the convict and the refugee,
Of the European settler,
Of the Asian and the African,
The American and the Islander.
It is the golden hope-filled land.
A hope-filled land?
This is the silent sun-baked land
Of the gibber plain and granite outcrop
Of the waterhole and the rain forest
Of native title and pastoral lease
Of skyscraper and empty reservoir.
A golden land?
This is a land battered and blackened by bush fire
But look! a land of grass trees green-shooting
in the still dark-smouldering ashes;
Of wildflowers in the sun-heat-blighted desert
And of cities glistened smog-free by an autumn wind.
A sacred land!
This is the Dreaming land, the land of spirit ancestors
Of campfire and corroboree, of rock art and cave painting
A land of mosque and temple, of prayer book and philosophy text
A land of tribal elders and politicians.
And how slowly we have learnt, 60,000 years slowly, how to live with this land
And how slowly we have learnt, 200 years slowly, not to abuse this land
And how slowly we are learning, day-by-day slowly, how to share this land.
We who are black of skin, and white and brown and yellow
And sunburnt pink
Native and newcomer
Blue-eyed and brown-eyed and black-haired and fair-haired
We will live in harmony in this land
Because this is the Land of the Rainbow Serpent
And we are the Rainbow People."
©RAF 26.01.2007

Aussie Aussie Aussie
Oi Oi Oi

Cheers,
Lynda

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul. ~The Koran

Marnie has a secret admirer. Ooooh! Who is it?
She came home from work today with the largest bouquet of flowers I have ever seen given to anyone. She could hardly hold it up because it is so heavy.  It is absolutely packed full of pale pink Oriental lilies. Most are still in bud so they should look beautiful for awhile as each bud opens out. The house smells like a florist shop. Marnie is used to having flowers delivered at work as she works in a hospital but the flowers are usually for the patients, not the nurses and never quite this large a bouquet. She was shocked when she was told they were for her. There was a small card attached that simply said 'Lost for Words'. No signature or hint as to who sent them.  Hmm might be a happy patient, might be a doctor, might be a handsome guy who knows where she works...    
I hope we find out! Nevertheless you can tell by the smile on her face that it made her day extra special. It made my day too as I get the pleasure of having a beautiful centrepiece for the table and the fresh fragrance of lilies wafting throughout the house. 
Cheers,
Lynda 

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Queensland - Not the place to be!

This is Channel 7 News footage of some of the flooding in Queensland. It is devastating to see the damage caused by all that water and heartbreaking for those who have loved ones dead or missing.
This carpark is gone in minutes.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/national/-/watch/23805703

Hope all our family and friends in Queensland are safe and dry.

Cheers,
Lynda

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Word Clouds

I love typography, fonts, beautiful words, letters so wordle is really fun to play around with. I like that the result is instant and that you don't have to play around for ages to get some interesting word formations. The colours are somewhat disappointing but there is always my favourite black, grey and white These are word clouds that I made using my blog address.


Interesting that Erin is prominent in them all. Why would that be I wonder???  I feel some scrapbooking, cutting, tearing and pasting activities coming on.

Cheers,
Lynda

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Never too late


We were supposed to make this for Christmas but we ran out of time and just didn't get around to doing it so yesterday was the day for making the gingerbread house. 





That icing is looking very tempting...

Too tempting in fact...


Yes it is yummy...


Our house began caving in before it was even finished as the day was really too hot to work with icing  but it was a fun activity and it tasted good anyway. Kaylee thought she had made a masterpiece and that is all that matters, right?

Cheers,
Lynda

Friday, January 7, 2011

It's Finished




This is the very pretty Lush Button-Up Cowl from SweaterBabe.com. After trying several different coloured buttons I decided to settle for the natural wood buttons and I think they look great.  The yarn is Moda Vera Kicky in white. I've decided to leave it unblocked and go for the soft, squishy look as the yarn is extremely soft and no amount of blocking would make it hold its shape. One more knitting project finished - I'm happy!

Cheers,
Lynda

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Many Thanks Erin


This is a tiny peep at the lovely artwork that was sent to me from my friend Erin. It is always a thrill and a surprise to receive mail from overseas. Erin wears a lot of caps - wife, mother, writer, artist, knitter, quilter, all round crafter and more and she is excellent at all her rolls. Her talents astound me.

Each artwork inspires the viewer in different ways and provokes a variety of meaning and responses dependent upon the viewer. This piece has special significance for me as it is picture perfect in my mind's eye of a very special place. That wasn't the original intention at the time it was completed but I think we agree Erin that this rambling garden and quaint cottage sits proudly in the pages of a book.

I love everything about this piece. The subject, the colours, the light and shade, the tiny little squiggles. There is so much to look at in this artwork. When I look at it I can see the flower petals falling and the leaves swaying in the breeze and I am charmed by the ever so slightly door ajar that says welcome, come on in.  

Thankyou Erin for the artwork, photos, kind words and friendship. I'll treasure them always.

Cheers,
Lynda

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Jeffrey, Jeffrey

When I grow up I want to be Superman!
(hmm I might've done a little snoopin' around where I wasn't meant to look)

Cheers,
Lynda

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Cake anyone

Shannon who doesn't cook ever decided to do some baking today and who was I to say no to that!
She picked out the recipe, made it all by herself and it was amazingly good. Thanks for dessert Shannon.
This is an Orange Syrup Cake with White Chocolate Ganache. Yummy!  




Cheers,
Lynda

Monday, January 3, 2011

Shawl Collared Cowl

The knitting project I am working on at the moment is the Shawl Collared Cowl by Alana Dakos. It's a very simple and easy to follow pattern and I think the roll back collar will be just the thing to add an extra layer of warm when the weather turns cool. The yarn is Tiziana by Moda Vera an inexpensive mostly acrylic yarn but it is one of the better ones. It feels good to knit with and I like the colour so even though I prefer natural fibres sometimes I am just as happy with acrylics. It must be the 18% wool in it that makes the difference.


This is my first project finished but not started in 2011. It is a pattern that went wrong when I misread the yarn over instructions and put them in the wrong place. It sat at the bottom of the UFO basket for a long time because I didn't want to rip it out and I had to come to terms with the fact that I made a stupid mistake.   Nevertheless it evolved into a comfy cowl and only you and I know it was a mistake! It bears no resemblance to the original pattern whatsoever but who cares.  The yarn is uber gorgeous. It is Jo Sharp Silk Road Aran and the colour is one of my favourites but I do like them all. 

The knitting year has started well, lets hope it continues that way!

Cheers,
Lynda 

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Christmas in boxes


Happy to say that all the lights and festive decorations for Christmas are all packed away in boxes for another year. I love the spirit of Christmas and I am mindful to carry the blessings of  Christmas with me throughout the new year. 

"What is Christmas?  It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future.  It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace."
Agnes M. Pahro

As a new year ticks over most of us think of our hopes and dreams for the year. I haven't made any new year's resolutions but I do know that tenderness, courage, hope, blessings and peace are the important things I want in my life in 2011. 

I hope there is time in there also for some fun, foolhardy moments as well. If New Year's eve is anything to go by I am sure there will be plenty of memories made and crazy things to laugh about! (ssh Erin and Shan! Ha!)



 
 a couple of snaps from Christmas Day!

Cheers,
Lynda

Saturday, January 1, 2011

The Happiest of New Years to You..

To my family and friends I wish you all a wonderful, prosperous, funny, creative, bright, healthy, successful, terrific, fulfilling, safe and extremely happy New Year. 


Dream big in 2011 and I hope many of your dreams and goals come true as the year moves forward. 


“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.
  Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams go, life is a barren field, frozen with snow.”
Langston Hughes

Cheers,
Lynda