Goal Setting

In the interests of taking the inspiration from last week and running with it, I have been working like a Trojan on my shawl.

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Though you can’t really see it yet, it has grown considerably! I have begun the second ball of yarn which indicates that there is over 700m of yarn so far in the project.

Through the magic of lace, there is very little actually see at this point. But I flattened out some of the design in order to give you an idea of the final product.

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Can you see the petal shapes?

Because this is such a large project (and let’s not think about all the other unfinished pieces I have around at the moment), I needed something short and sharp to pick up my spirits. So I took a break for a couple of nights and whipped up this entrelac hat.

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Isn’t it wonderful?!? I love the colour and the movement that the stitch pattern gives the fabric!

There is something else small I’m working on at the moment, but it’s not yet in a fit state to show the internet. So you’ll all have to wait. 😉

So what have you been working on recently?

The Powerhouse Museum

There are places you go when you’re feeling a little flat. When your life needs some direction. When you just feel the need to connect with something inspirational again. For me, one of those places has always been the Powerhouse Museum.

I took myself off on a little excursion over there today. Decided to give myself a treat, and go and see the Harry Potter exhibition while it was still on. I may have reached the conclusion that a weekday, now that school is back on, and early in the morning, was the most sensible time to go for a visit. And I was right!

The session I went in with (yes, you go to a timed entry session), was the first of the day, and I was one of five adults. No screaming children. No queues. No obstructed views. AND I got to be sorted! *giggles* Oodles of fun!

I was enthralled and mesmerised by all the details in each of the costumes and all the props! Truly mind-blowing, and utterly inspiring!

But, being owned by Warner Bros, no photography allowed.

So whilst in the building, I navigated my way around the construction work (and they are doing quite a bit of it at the moment it seems!) and headed off down to my favourite space; the Lace Study Centre.

In there I was able to chat with the wonderful volunteers who are so knowledgeable and who obviously not only love, but have an all encompassing passion for their craft. It’s catching! I showed them some of my work, and they showed me the basics of bobbin lace (I’ve always wanted to do that! *adds it to the list*).

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They opened all the drawers for me, and we discussed this history of some of the older pieces, the methods of construction, and then the procedures of some of the newer pieces, like Catherine’s wedding gown and the Royal School of Needlework’s part in its construction.

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EPIC!

As the room filled up, and they had people other than me to effuse all over, I headed out to the Love Lace exhibit that’s currently running.

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I love discovering new ways of incorporating lace into life, and how many different things it represents to so many different people!

This is a selection of a few of my favourite pieces from today.

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You know I’m going to try this at some point, right? *plots a yarn bomb*

I also want to try this with some doilies!

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And the rest!!!

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I can’t get over the fact that this is a chain link fence!

So anyway, by the time I walked out of there I was well and truly inspired! Now to take that inspiration and make something mind blowing with it!

To the grind stone!

The end of Summer

So, Sydney and New South Wales in general has been flooding. This was what I walked through on the way to work last Thursday. And by the time I’d gotten to the awning to take this photo it wasn’t as bad as what I’d walked through.

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I was completely drenched from the belly button down, and only need to walk a block from the bus! Not long after my bus went through, that bus route was closed due to flooding. YAY for starting work early … or something …

Surprisingly the weather cleared up remarkably well for the weekend!

We had a busy weekend. There was some celebrating at our favourite pub, with some wonderful friends who it had been entirely too long since we’d seen. There was much chatting and catching up, and it felt like old times again. It had its poignant moments.

I have to keep reminding myself that it really is Autumn now, not Spring. We had such a non-event of a Summer, that when I walked down the street and saw this beautiful tree busting with buds and new blooms just waiting to explode, it really felt like Spring …

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On Sunday we woke up bright and early and decided that exercise was the order of the day. So we went for a walk down the road to the local pool. We did some laps (and boy did I feel out of shape!), and then I lay in the sun warming up a bit while being amused at Himself jumping off the diving tower with all the kids. We both got a touch of pink to our complexions!

Being that there were kids, and it’s a local pool, I didn’t take any photos. Not worth it. But it is a lovely pool! And I’m looking forward to frequenting it in the next couple of weeks while/if the weather remains warm enough to enjoy it.

With exercise done, I came home and achieved lots of knitting! I’m up to row 16 of chart 3, and only need to reach row 71 before I can begin the edging! Each row is taking approximately an hour. It doesn’t look all that different from the last time I showed you a picture.

That’s about it for this week. More photos in the next exciting episode!

Birthdays!

Birthdays are so much fun! Especially when Grandma pulls out all the stops and bakes you a “fantasy castle”!

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Himself bravely ventured a piece of a step, and I just valiantly cheered him on from the sidelines. The kids made great in-roads though!

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The weather which had been amazing turned to this on the drive home …

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You can see how 75% of NSW was underwater. The equivalent of the size of France!

Arriving home to my new yarn did me no end of good though!

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I feel like I have been waiting forever for this to come to a local shop near me! I guess it’s only been a few years though … I can’t wait to play!!! Now, which socks shall I make with them?

Random Life Points

1. We celebrated my birthday extremely late. Because we could.

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2. I can still crochet. I made this one night when I needed an instant gratification project. I gave this one to a lady at work.

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3. Life is as hectic as always around here, but we still find time for the odd cat nap.

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4. Tell me what’s been going on in your life?