Stitch n Saturday

Wet and cool day nice sleep in and retail therapy of the yarn variety. I mean I cant just go to hobby sew to get just the solvy I was sent for a few odd balls of baby yarn had to come along to Stitch n Bitch incase I didnt have enough to last me. I am after all on the Beanie and Bootees for the sale. Nice Australian pure wool who can resist. Nice easy knitting for the afternoon.

I called into the Salvos store on my way and found some great old transfers to embroider and at just 50 cents had to have all I saw. Some day Ill get to using them too.

As I left a productive afternoon at the Novotel I saw this sunset trying to break through.

But heck I said I was not going to blog this but I will only of this one not the group shots of the others I worked with.

The story behind the picture... It was Connection Friday and another manager was supposed to wear this t shirt but found the best way out he gave it to me to wear. So not only did I have to wear it but be photographed in it and with the sock puppet I made. I wore the shirt but then went back handwashed to the labels care instructions drip dryed in the shower then spun it before letting it fully dry and ironing for the Monday. I hope Brett has been made to wear it this time. It was the most unflattering thing to wear thank goodness its not the regular uniform.

There have been a few sets of Beanies and Bootee sets done and I hope that I have a fairly good stock level for Friday. So I must get back to it all.

LEST WE FORGET

92 years ago today the Australian Imperial Forces combined with the New Zealand Forces landed in Gallipoli in Anzac Cove marking the major start to the ANZAC's involvement in the war although there was a call up in 1914 for troops to assemble to resist the Germans Advances.

Today we woke for Dawn Services only to hear the news that some teenagers spray painted an awful and disrespectful slogan on a Memorial at Bathurst and 3 of our troops were wounded in Afghanistan on patrol requiring medical treatment.

Please keep those not onlyfrom previous conflicts and missions in your thoughts and prayers but also those who are currently on duty in the world whether it be in aid and assistance or for the War on Terror. We want them all to return home safe and that good things come from it all.

As you reflect look at the meaning behind it and the words below from the Shrine of Rememberance sum it up for us all.

Some other points of Rememberance The Eternal Flame.

Lone Pine from the Actual Lone Pine battlefield.

The Garden of Rememberance for all the Service since World War II.

My thoughts are also not only turned to those who served but those on the home front trying to do all they can to survive and also to comfort those on the Battlefields. Red Cross organised the knitting for the Service personel and even the care packages sent often with a fruit cake or ANZAC biscuits added as they lasted teh long journey by sea to the front. I have been able to access American Patterns but Australian ones are harder to come by from the War Comforts as they called them. Many great stories and groups not unlike todays Charity knitting groups or Stitch n Bitch groups were held during this time.

So as you knit or go about your hobby think of thise who have and are serving for our world to be a peaceful one.

Torrential Rain where's the Ark

Ok Its wet and very wet at that. Heaps of rain but not in the Dams so it is just making us all damp and wet as well as causing road problems. May cause more havoc for tomorrows ANZAC Day ceremonies but I know we need the rain too.

Tonight I come home to find an Awesome PRGE parcel from Robert who is my pal and it contains so many goodies and The Nancy Bush book Knitting on The Road. I have been trying to get the book for a while and as it seems to be hard to get here I was nearly giving up. I want to make Christmas in Tallinn soon but that is after the orders that are looming over me plus the one that got requested today.

How awesome is this parcel so many cool things.

Boss had his first sight of Bubbles tonight he wasnt sure what to think either.

Finally in reference to ANZAC Day tomorrow I show you the 2 things that will be my essentials appart from my Uniform for the services that I will be "On Duty" for. I have my Cornet that I own after alot of saving and the medals of my Grandfather who Served in WWII with the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI). Wherever you may be always remember those who served proudly for the world we know today eventhough it is not perfect but "there service our hertiage" has shaped the way things are in some places but others it is still in service that they give.

They shall not grow old

As we who are left grow old

age shall not weary them

Nor the years condem

At the going of the Sun

We will remember them

Lest we forget.

A busy day today.

Saturday Sky from somewhere along King Georges Road as I drove home from getting the Easter show entries. I normally have a Navigator to go with me but I had to go alone and had the instructions of "keep going on King Georges and turn left, when you come back dont forget to do the right turn or you land yourself into trouble". I will admidt I got ther and back ok but I hate doing drives alone when its over a further distance.

This has deceided to Grow in our yard and well now removed safely but interesting all the same. Reminds me of Brownies with the pool of reflection infront of a mushroom lamp and the Brownies in a circle on their sit-a-pons which were padded and waterproof backed mats for campfires and meetings.

I have been busy I have made a few Kitchen towels and even started tagging items for the sale at the Dapto Ribbonwood Centre on the 4 - 6th of May. I need to make a few more yet. So far only 4 done.

I even made 4 coathangers and sewn them up as I tagged a whole shopping bag of stuff for the sale. I need a few more of these too.

I have got a couple of these Lavender bags that Mum makes after embroidering the motif on our machine. I also have face washers/flannels and Tea towels with an embroidery on them. More stuff will be made this week as well. It tends to work out I knit Mum sews as my sewing skills are very poor. Too many things I could do but hope to spend the afternoon on ANZAC Day knitting Bootees while I rest for a change. As Big Brother starts it also sparks the knitting on as it is easy to knit while its on and I really dont pay to much attention to it and the late night shows are perfect for the knitting time.

Stop me now its almost as bad as stash buying

I got a lovely email from The Tea Centre today they have free postage for a limited tim until the 15th May. So stop me now I have a bad tea addiction so should be using the next few weeks to stock some extra goodies. Want to get a hold if this yourself it is only shipping to Australians though. Go on over here have a looksee.

Maybe new tea will pin me down to get things done it is now coat hanger covers and kitchen towels maybe baby beanies and bootees next week but for now there are Anzac Duties to be done and I am lucky to have the day off to do them as they involve multiple venues. But each year I see families marching together right from Grandad and Dad who have served to Granson as well. I even see a family at one venue who has grandson with WW1 medals then there is his Dad with WW2 medals both for a member of the family who has sinced passed on to glory and then Grandad a Vietman Vetran and they all march together the little fella is all ouf about 5 or 6 now but it has been a good few years they are the family together. I am not marching but just playing for the services now. I have my Grandfathers medals on me from his service during WW2. So time will reveal what places and duties I have commencing Sunday then the actual day on Wednesday.

For now I must stock my stall with things to buy so back to the needles I go.

Exhibition wrap up in pictures

The ladies all in line....
Little peoples Teddy tea party.
Ornamental little items....
The Crib for those to expect and see the lovely 2ply christening gown all weekend I wanted to see it sold and that I could email Annie to tell her. It didnt sell this time.
The much appreciated afternoon tea and seeing people react to it was good too.

Stormy seas hanging on the mantle just like christmas waiting for some presents to be put into them.
The mantle of socks and the drapping of scarves.
Rogues gallery of dishcloths.
Mantle of tea cosys and as you see the 2 1st place cards for mine.
The dressing table with the noce finery on it and the Estonian lace scarf grabbing people into seeing it.

Oh its a lovely day today........

What a lovely pleasant day to have the SnB Exhibition and sit back relax and crochet Kitchen Towel Tops. I did get 2 completed today such a good effort between talking and selling. Quite a good number of people came through today and a good few sales were made and then later I had a get together for a work friend to see her through to her new job as the ladies from SnB had dinner just the next table over.

The tea cosy was on display and it now has two prizes to its name. I got a few comments about it and people in gerneral like to see it. I still cannot part with it and dont think I could sell it at all. Same with the Estonian Lace scarf it is more that they are sentimental along my knitting journey than the money it could reap.

The lace scarf with all of its glory again but so well displayed in the dressing table. It was told to me that they have had comments that it had to have been made by an elderly lady when they had to explain I am not quite 30 yet. Most people were surprised and amazed at what was on display.

Oddly they had a dinner at the Ha Long Bay for the ladies from Stitch n Bitch and well I also had a dinner but for Sarah who has just moved along to a newer workplace. I think this time we were the loud and slightly drunk party and well there was a portrait of our Guest of Honour Sarah done by one of the others in the dipping sauce for the dim sims.

But for now I still have my head on as I have not drunk too much just the one and well have an under 18's football match at 10.30 am and then Ill head back to the exhibiton for more knitting time. Tomorrow it might be some coathanger covers or more kitchen towels.

Easter Sunday and the Show

These are the regional displays that use the produce of the region such as fruit,vegetable,grains or fleece to make these scenes. For most regions gathering has got harder due to the drought. Overall they are impressive and people flock to see them.

The Northern even had the butterfly wings moved up and down in a normal pattern as if it was one giant one.

The artists palete.
The Snowy Mountains in iconic scene and there is a good amount of fleece used here.

Celebrating the 10o years of the Grand parade and the 10 years since Homebush became home to the show.

For a lazy Sunday I have bummed about and tried to figure what pattern to do first with the dishwash cotton. I spent 3 weeks selfish knitting and came back with 2 very nice items. Now I have to think of the selling items for a touch and knit some vests for myself. I need to knit the stash but have a new side project that will be nice for some friends to welcome a new person in. I have to order the yarn first but you will soon see what I am up to. For now it is the ufos to knock out that maybe should have gone along with me.

Saturday of Easter

How else do you photograph Stormy Seas socks than to take them to the inspiration for them. It was a weird weather day which made it good to sleep in unwind and relax as well as take a bit of a drive. I havent driven while I was in Melbourne but it felt good to drive my car and go as I wanted to.
Wet at times and windy it has been great weather to just relax and knit or Read the latest Yarn and Simply Knitting. I have even got back to the bootees and Beanie I needed to complete for the Set I was asked to do and started just before I left. I hope that these are done for Tuesday so that they can be matched back to the set I have been working on. I even have a great hunk of the scarf done so hope to have that ready soon too.

Can't resist to post this from the show the display of produce and a pair of granny undies as "Gran's Place" which is not unlike my home. There is the old fashioned clothes line that inspired the tea cosy just like my yard. I have a great idea for this years work on a cosy just need to get on my feet to get it done heaps of alpaca knitting to do for a bit.

The 767 has landed

I finished it dampened it and will finish it properly over the weekend. I enjoyed learning the lily of the valley and will maybe later make a scarf with just the pattern in it.
Some more detail. I will have to get a photo of the stormy seas socks also. I did get home rather late last night and have spent today at the Easter Show. I have had a bit to catch back up on and sleep is one of them.
While I was away my 1st PRGE parcel arrived with heaps of goodies in it. The lovely alpaca has been conjuring up ideas in my mind as what to make with it. It is sofar saying make a scarf but what pattern still alludes me. Im sure whatever it says will be nice and it tones in great to my jacket I wear.

I also had my parcel of 13 lovely balls of Sugar and cream and Peaches and Creme dishcloth cotton. As I took them out of the bag I was tempted by the patterns on the ball bands. I will get to them after I knit my scarf for the ISE 4. I made great progress today on the train to and from the show. Nothing better than a train trip to knit my way through pity when I fly I have to read or do puzzles.

Last night when I had just checked my bag in to return there was a lady at the next baggage check station that asked the attendant can I take my needles on the plane. She got the no sorry reply and proceeded to remove some 25 mm needles out of her handbag and put into her luggage. I couldnt resist and say that they dont really cater for us knitters and even my knitting was in the bag just checked in. I did think it was lucky to be a short flight with a nice dinner to keep me occupied.

SO now its still sorting things back out and catching up on 3 weeks worth of everything it seems.

The final bow to Melbourne

17.1 hands Tall and a fine beauty of a Horse Farewell Phar Lap you was a wonder to see even if I should have been back in my apartment knitting. Ah well more on that later. Melbourne Museum was great and let me say I enjoy all the museums I saw and the historic buildings. If only I had a real week of holiday to see more at a slightly slower pace.

Waltzing Matilda Clock at the QV just in time before Coffee and Krispy Kreme stop. It is cute But Queen Victoria Building in Sydney has the better Clock I say. Ok shopping centre for the champagne budget. Me well Back to the markets.

Lazy Sunday Morning sculling on the Yarra on one side of me and Run for Kids on the other 15ks through the city I just followed the crowd as the remains of the 30000 runners came along just over an hour later than the start.

Simpson and His Donkey at the Shrine of Rememberance. In respect for the rememberence I took no photos of the interior which is beautiful ornate and I will look forward to further additions they have planned. I must say it was a time that had me thinking and I hope that the others who were there visiting had their thoughts challenged too.

To bid me farewell was the The Tapping Man who is famous for tapping the glass in the Haighs Chocolate shop. I am sure that the weekend before I was at the shop but never noticed him and well a second trip for a final supply of sweet dark chocolate made me see him. I have seen alot of Melbourne in a very small timeframe. But I am glad to return home to my normal routine, my normal home comforts and most of all the UFOS I left behind. The Estonian Garden Scarf was completed last night it needs to be blocked and ends sewn in and the stormy seas are done. I have even done a bit of the scarf. I am having a 3 day break before returning to normal duties on Monday. I have just about packed my case and it all seems to fit better this time with the added extras as well. Bring on 7pm Thursday night when I know it is time for home. Friday seems to be the Day for me to visit the Royal Easter Show. I was not sucessful with my Baby Jacket but 2 others I know were able to get Highly Commended for their items. I might think about next years items soon but for now its homeward bound I look.