Garden Early December 2016

Rose Leonardo da Vinci

Robinia Frisia

Dracunculus Vulgaris

Path to the door

New Strawberry set-up

Rose Zephirine Drouhin

Arisaema Consanguineum

Plectranthus parviflorus 'Blue Spires'

Rose Abraham Darby

Pelargonium and Valerian let loose up along the back fence 

View through the apple arbour

Pierre de Ronsard rose

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Found old tyre planter

Old brake drum

Rosa Sweginzowii

Rosa Sweginzowii, our best rose (apart from the others)
A magnificent shrub.

Cotinus coggygria 'Golden Spirit, Golden Diosma...

Goldflame Spirea, orange Geum and Heuchera 'Coral Bells'

Copper Beech hedge in the making

Fernery under the old Magnolia

Lillium grown by Ruby

'Leonardo Da vinci' Rose

Species Pelargonium

Naima, At Last!

I started 'Naima' in April and just finished it (although I need new buttons as these are too small and they catch)

 It's Cleckheaton Merino Angora Silk 8ply and feels amazing! Discontinued, the fools!

The Fair Isle is worked in scraps of this and that... fuzzy wuzzy, op shop... Just in time for summer.

Geometric Proddy Rug

My original intention was for this to be quite subtle and soft in colouring. Ha ha ha! I'll try to subdue the bright purple and yellow with more neutrals and duller mauves etc., but then you know how these things take a life of their own. On the day, the right colour might be something you hadn't thought previously.
This proddy rug is all blanketing or woollen cloth. Some dyed.
I had lain out the rug and chosen colours, pinning or poking them into place so I didn't have to think for awhile, but at the Melbourne Show, the little children who were having a go liked to put their colours all over the place, so it's gotten a little lost! And who was I to stop their fun? I'll figure it out again.

My Honey's Birthday Present Arrived

.It's good how we both like good stuff. This is so lovely. The old lino's are excellent in design and colour combo...why can't you get them anymore?
Made by Liz at Betty Jo Designs, especially for me.

New (Old) Sampler Pattern Done and in my Etsy shop.

The pattern is finished!

Some Proggy Rug Help

For those people who came to The Melbourne Show and were interested in making a rug... I thought I'd put together a bit of a list..
To start. If you (or someone you know... or the local Men's Shed who always need a project) want to make a Rug Frame, Rug Crafting Australia have a plan online for the same one I use.
But, you can trial run using any old tapestry frame, or even a few bits of wood with some hessian nailed onto it. Or, some like to go Frame Free.
Look at Miriam Miller's website. Her book is excellent and has the frame dimensions and loads of good instruction. And she's a sweetie.
Also, have a look at Heather Ritchie, Rugmaker UK. Her proddy tutorials are terrific Youtube's.

Here is my first Proddy Rug. I changed it as I went along, as is often the case. It's worked on ordinary hessian from Spotlight. I like using linen but was impatient to get moving. Linen feels nicer to play with and will no doubt last longer. But, hessian has been used for hundreds of years, so...
My friend Chris sells the Prodders and Hooks I use (it's nice to have nice tools). I found this on Etsy too and this shows the how the name 'Peggy Rug' came to be.

Gene Sheherd is a well-known US rugmaker and teacher. His website is worth perusing. 

Also, go to our very own Victorian Rugmakers blog to see where and when we are meeting next. We are a little, friendly (lovely) group who meet often in Warrandyte, often in Loch. There are a few of us who don't get there much, due to proximity, so new people might promote a beginning for new little groups. We're all busting to grow the craft and will happily show you anything.

2nd Saturday of every month, generally (often negotiated around and about). There are also good links there on the side of the blog.

If you have any queries, email me at r.m.square@bigpond.com. (I'm sure to have forgotten something).

This is an oldie, made using Crimpelene! 

Tired, Sore neck, But Happy In Myself!

I've spent the last two days at the Melbourne Show, demonstrating mostly rug making (proddy). And the KIDS! They're gorgeous! I fell properly in love about a dozen times, with these little blossoms taking to proddy-rugging like earnest, determined, clever, darling little clever people... I know I said clever twice, but there it is. Usually their Mum's were ready to go before they were and I nearly ran after one little petal with presents and adoption papers.

Could be I like orange.

This is when I first set up, before people. When they arrived I didn't get away unless Ramona or Liz or Mandy or Annette came to boss me into a break (thanks for that guys, I didn't want to be impolite and found it hard to go). There were kids at the rug almost the whole time, and adults of course. People love to share their stories and I like to hear them. Win/win.

Below is a nice story. I always buy one of these from the show. I have some oldies too, and so it was nice to see their history.

Thanks Ramona for inviting me. It gives me a real buzz to evangelize the crafts. I also got quite a bit done!

Off To The Melbourne Show (22nd & 23rd Sept)

Come and see me in the Arts & Crafts Pavilion. Gonna have a ridiculous amount of stuff there... I'll be sharing and I'm always caring so that's a given.

My friends Rhonda's coming to visit!!