Monday, June 27, 2011

I Want You Shawl by Loredana Gianferri

I'm so happy with this project. Lovely yarn, lovely pattern and it's all done. It's soft and warm around my neck on these chilly mornings and the colour is vibrant and lifts whatever I am wearing.  I added an extra lace section to use all the skein of yarn. I think it looks so pretty with the lacy border.



One of the big boys headed off on a fishing trip to Fiji yesterday. He said he wasn't interested in going overseas as there was so much of Australia he wanted to see but in the last two years he has holidayed in  all the states of Australia and the thought of catching that BIG fish was too much and won him over!

The reason I mention his trip to Fiji is that I have a little 6 inch yoyo bear that is my "I've been everywhere bear. " Her name is just Yoyo bear because she is made from yoyos. I made her years and years ago and she became a favourite toy of my girls over the years. She proudly sits with her other small bear friends in a bowl on a wooden cabinet in the dining room. This bear began her big adventures when  Shannon was 3 years old and I grabbed the bear as a comfort for Shannon as she was rushed to hospital by ambulance. She went with Shannon to all her medical tests, doctors' appointments and even into the theatre for major brain surgery. It happened that Shannon would take the bear everywhere.  Yoyo's first trip overseas was when my hubby went to America and I packed her in his luggage and over the years she has visited several states in America. She's been to New Zealand twice, Hong Kong and all over Australia staying in expensive hotels and also on camping trips. So when the trip to Fiji came up Yoyo wanted to go. Alas, here she is waiting to be packed in the luggage for another big adventure and my big boy left without her :(

 
On purpose? maybe or maybe not but like any good bear does she will be waiting for her next big adventure! Do you know the storybook 'The Velveteen Rabbit' by Margery Williams? If you do then you will know that this little bear became real.

Here's an excerpt from the book (one of my favourite kid's books btw)

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."
"I suppose you are real?" said the Rabbit. And then he wished he had not said it, for he thought the Skin Horse might be sensitive.
But the Skin Horse only smiled. 


Cheers,
Lynda

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

How much do you really know about me?

 
A. Age: As old as I feel and as young as I look. One must never divulge one’s real age   O.o
B. Bed size: Large enough to fit several kids and a cat!
C. Chore that you hate: I’ll do anything at all if you do the cooking.
D. Dogs: Black Maltese Shihtzu called Jet and a couple under the rose bushes!  
E. Essential start to your: Coffee but not before I check if Erin’s left a message :D
F. Favourite color: It changes with the wind but purple is always up there
G. Gold or Silver: Both
H. Height: 5'4"
I. Instruments you play: None very well but that doesn’t stop me!
J. Job title: Lifesaver
K. Kids: Um wasn’t it ‘eight is enough’ uhhh I never got to enough.
L. Live: Melbourne way out in the foothills.
M. Mother's name: Amelia
N. Nicknames: Wincey
O. Overnight hospital stays: lost count
P. Pet peeve: People who sit on the fence, bad drivers, noisy eaters, getting overcharged when I buy something, people who push in front of me in queues – pet peeves, you just can’t stop at one!
Q. Quote from a movie: “Just because it is, doesn’t mean it should be” from the movie Australia and spoken by Hugh Jackman
R. Right or left handed: Right
S. Siblings: Two sisters
T. Time you wake up: It varies, always before 7am
U. Underwear: Never leave home without it!
V. Vegetable you hate: Artichoke but I must admit I have never tried one. It’s just a vegetable that I would never buy. I hope I’m not missing out on something wonderful.
W. What makes you run late: Where are the car keys?
X. X-Rays you've had: teeth, feet and pelvis
Y. Yummy food that you make: Everyone stays home for my lamb roast.
Z. Zoo animal: The pandas are special but really I like all the animals.

Playing along with erinjoy and Katie :)

Cheers,
Lynda

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Ooh Excitement Plus

Two weeks ago I placed my first online order for yarn. I was slightly concerned about spending money and my order not actually arriving on my doorstep so I conservatively  ordered two skeins of yarn to test the online company, the length of time the parcel would take to arrive and whether the whole process was cheaper than buying yarn locally. One has to consider the cost of postage and handling especially when buying from overseas.

I'm happy to say that today my yarn arrived safely and from start to finish the whole process was wonderful. The company I chose to use was fabulousyarn.com  and the package took less than 2 weeks to arrive from the U.S .At the checkout I received a discount that was an added surprise. I will definitely be placing another order with this company.


I'm especially happy because the yarn I ordered is Malabrigo Lace in the shade Paris Night. Malabrigo is not available anywhere near where I live so it is exciting to think I have access to such a wonderful yarn. The only problem that I had was wondering what colour yarn to order and that I couldn't fondle and squish the yarn with my hands. A small price to pay!


Now for pattern ideas..

Cheers,
Lynda

Friday, June 10, 2011

Send in the Clowns


Attracted by the colourful flyers on lamp posts and the large, bright yellow and white striped big top in the main street these two went off to see the circus. Kim was rather impressed that she was called up on stage to be part of an act and they both agreed the atmosphere under the big top was electric! They enjoyed all the acts especially the motorcycle riders.

There are no more sad lions in cages, acrobats on horseback or elephants chained in the carpark. Thankfully that type of cruelty has been challenged in recent years and instead the audience sit on the edge of their seats watching death defying human acts and wondering if (maybe even hoping) something will go wrong! It's human nature I guess!

Ah! I'm happy to see the circus today is a far cry from scenes like I saw in the movie Water for Elephants that I watched over the weekend and also much different from the circus based mainly around animal acts that were so popular when I was young. Oh how the world is different when viewed through the eyes of a child.

People have a voice and they have used it to protect the animals.
The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists. ~Japanese Proverb
The circus today is like the bamboo!

Cheers,
Lynda

Thursday, June 9, 2011

For Owen


Birthday Card Maker

Lots of love and best wishes for a very happy birthday from your friends in Oz. Hope you had an awesome day.

Cheers,
Lynda