flinders street, platform 4, 8pm

snapped this into the sun this evening. Love the sun bouncing off the metal tracks...

soldier on...

an ugly accident with a saw on Dec 23rd (last minute hurry making chrissie presents - not recommended!). Seven stitches later and christmas 2009 meant no swimming, awkward showers with a plastic bag and no crafting (but hey, I also escaped doing the washing up, so there are benefits!).
Back into it now, stitches are out (DIY - I'm quite proud of myself!) and back to the crochet - this one will be a cushion cover. It's time to resign myself to the fact that I don't have the patience for afghans.

craft is all around

At christmas at my Nan's this year, I tried to appreciate all the handmade things that have just always been there. The amazingly intricate cross stitch tablecloth that comes out on special occasions and which my Nan & Pa received for their engagement. The crochet rugs that were made by my great grandmother - that yellow, black and red one has been on that green sofa in the 'good room' (more commonly known as the 'big loungeroom') for as long as I can remember. There are photos of my brother as a baby on that sofa, with that rug draped over it.
My Nan lives in country Victoria, in the house her mother lived in before her. My uncle & aunty run the farm which my grandparents ran before them. This is just normal to me - but when you stop and think about it, it is significant.

Nan's house is big, and old. There are four bedrooms, three living rooms and two bathrooms. There are five doors to outside, but no-one uses the front door. Nan has two fridges and a chest freezer (the 'deep freeze') - they must cost her a fortune in electricity, but where would all the food go at christmas? Until about 5 years ago she still used a wringer washing machine. The garden isn't as green as it used to be, what with the drought and the water restrictions, but Nan carts buckets around to water her pot plants.

At christmas we had about 20 this year. When everyone is home there are 28 of us, but that's a rare event. There's always someone overseas, or having christmas with their partner's family.

One day things will be different, but for now, I can't imagine it any other way.

WIP no longer...

I have been very quiet around these parts lately. Sometimes life just gets in the way...
But hurrah, those crochet squares from - how many weeks ago now? - have multiplied and sewn themselves into a finished product! And I can now tick one belated birthday present off the list...

I used the excellent crochet cushion construction tutorial from the lovely Lucy at Attic24, and used a thrifted jumper for the backing.

my creative space: colourful crochet...

after seeing Melanie's post this week I was reminded that I also have a couple of outstanding birthday gifts to get onto. do other people have this affliction? you want to make because it's a way of showing how much you care, but does giving a present 6 months late contradict that?

I have a dear (patient) friend in mind for this one - she is extremely talented, gentle and kind, an excellent violinist and runner, and she had a birthday earlier this year but true to form wanted no-one to pay any attention to it(!)

It's going to be a cushion cover. I am thinking a recycled jumper (sweater), but still need to crochet another 7 squares to make it 4x4.

You can find links to more crafty people over at Kirsty's

sweet jar covers

for a while now I've been hoarding a single tiny vegemite jar. it is such a perfect size and shape, I have been determined that one day I would crochet a little cover for it and turn it into a dear little vase...

well, the day arrived. it was in the post-grampians-cycle-trip-I-rode-into-the-wind-and-rain-for-three-days-now-I-can-sit-on-my-butt-for-the-next-three-and-crochet-guilt-free phase. and one jar became five, with perhaps some more to come.

I think they turned out rather well. I might even put together a tutorial.


also picked up around the same time were these cottons from the frankston market for my future jar-covering urges... (all this for $1.50!)

plus, some gorgeous hand-carved wood block stamps:

exciting times!

My creative space: on the bike

(taken on Tuesday near Gariwerd, The Grampians)

Sometimes bike touring is easy. The sun shines, the wind is at your back, your legs feel strong and you can't imagine being happier doing anything else. It is a time for ideas, for possibilities. You literally feel yourself unwind. It is very much a creative space. There are endless hours, just to think. No multi-tasking, except for turning those pedals and letting your mind wander (and trying to avoid those swooping magpies).

And then there are those other times.

When the wind and the rain are in your face, when your legs are telling you you're on a hill but it can't possibly be, it looks so flat. When you're still 30 or 40 (or 60) km from where you need to be and you've had enough, and you curse your pride from stopping you flagging down the next car.

It's a love-hate relationship.

(p.s. if you're in the Grampians area, I can highly recommend the Willaura Bakery)

As always, you can find more creative spaces over at Kirsty's