June Catch Up (by Robyne)

This is my own first get together for many months, and it was very nice to see Jen, Joy and Anne at Anne's amazing, craft-filled house in Warrandyte. The fires were burning, the soup delicious and we chatted and worked on our rugs for the whole day.

Jen fitting in some sun-burst activity. We all find it hard to find time to rug and so these day's together give us the time, uninterrupted excepting by lunch and some happy Ooohing and Aaahing.

I've been so tied up with family commitments too, that it felt a rare treat to take a whole day to go and play with the gals. A pity Chris wasn't present (sniff), or some other's who are more likely than I to be there.

Joy's second stair-tread rug, 'The sheep on the heather' (I made that name up) is coming along. Joy has included some Wenslydale (Is that right Joy?) wool into the right hand sheep.
We are all on a mission to find a Heath Robinson solution to have her family and friends avoid actually walking on the stairs once they're carpeted. Perhaps a Mary Poppins solution?

The heath and the distant mountains...

My proggy rug is nearly done (even more so, as I write this). My sciatica will hopefully move on when it is, as I take way too much (cleaning) time at it after dinner in the evening and the nerve is making me pay. Pretty-well every night, I get sucked into it. It's killing me.
My hubby is going to make me a standing-up pair of trestle legs, so I can either prop on a stool or stand up to work. 

The back is always clearer huh.
A couple of nights ago I sacrificed my over-pj's-wear kimono because it's exactly the right colour for some background. It was wearing out in any case, so... I did like wearing it though...
I've discovered audio books. This rug has seen me through the entire 8 Outlander books and now I'm onto 'All Quiet on the Western Front'. Wow! What a book that is. Amazing account and so human.
The audio's are good for making vacuuming a nothing rather than a bore too. 

Hey... I notice Anne didn't photograph her own rug....

Jen and Esther's Dyeing Day

 

 

The first photo is of Esther who was finishing her Year 12 Art final assessment piece. She created a mixed ink-print book with a mixed media cover. She is putting burlap and twine on black cardboard for the front cover.

I wanted to do some dyeing before we move house for a new rug I have in mind. As you can see in the photo's I didn't have a lot of room to work with the stove inside the chimney (not for much longer!!).

It's nearly impossible to pour anything into a pot when cooking. Anyway, I made a 'dip dye' yellow and a 'dump dye' yellow-orangey-pinkish wool.

Winnie-cat demanded her hot pack and blanket, she was cold, right in the middle of applying dye to the wool. She has a great sense of timing!

I'm happy with the way the wool turned out and have plans for more... I don't think I would have tried this if it hadn't been for Joy who helped me with my first batch of dyeing some time ago. Thanks Joy!.

Hope you all enjoy Strath.

Rememberance Day Poppy Project

Here are Jen's poppies for the 5000 poppies project.

 

To quote the website:

 

Between 2014 and 2018 Australia will commemorate the Anzac Centenary, marking 100 years since Australia’s involvement in the First World War.
The aim of this project is to create a field of 5000 poppies which will be displayed publicly in Melbourne on ANZAC Day 2015 as a community tribute to commemorate more than a century of service by Australian servicemen and women in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations in which Australians have been involved.
Now I know that 2015 seems a long way off … But there is a LOT of work to be done between then and now and a milestone or two to meet along the way.
Poppies can be crocheted, knitted, felted or stitched in any design you like and must, of course, be RED and no more than 15 cm in diameter.  That’s the only criteria.



Please follow the link to find patterns and updates about the project. As of September 2014, the count is 35,000! What was once a goal of 5000 has now jumped to a goal of 102,784. You'll have to read up on what the significance of the number is.

Jen's hooked poppies will be a different note in the scrum!