She's Done!

Just have to stitch a border now, then block it to straighten it up. Very excited! It says on the back of the pattern that I started in June 2010! Surely not! It has had long gaps of inaction, but a year seems ridiculous.

Go to my Etsy if you want the pattern!

I Want To Make A Bust Like These

Rachel Denny (above)

We have some beautiful horns at home. Various goats, I think. We also have a few skulls. A bear skull from the Op Shop. $5 because nobody wanted it. I may paint it pink, although I may not too. I had a book out of the library, on Dr Suess's busts, and since then I've had a hankering. Now that we're really getting into the renovations (although we're starting in the garden), I'm keen to get a wiggle on on the house stuff. I write countless lists...
Lounge Room: Bee Cushion (tick), Mme Riviere (almost... tick), 2 large square cushions, 2 small rectangular cushions and one oval cushion, Shell Covered Letters (tick), Shell Covered Lamp with Birch Bark Shade (almost tick and I'll show you as soon as it's done), Rag Rug for under or in front of the Chaise, Bust with Goats Horns...


Bedroom:
3 Rag Rugs, Heavy White Damask Monogrammed Sheet set, 2 Doona Covers (one from old table cloths), Bayeux Style Embroidery of Family Tea (or should that be for the kitchen/dining room?), Duck Doiley Set, Finish the freaking Red Quilt! etc...
Kiddie's Room:
Ship Rag or Tapestry Rug, Wagga...

Ad infinitum.

Happy Birthday (Or Valentine's Day Really) For 2 and a Half Years Ago

That's how long I've been gathering shells and when I started this lovely present for my One True Love. He was impressed by the lovliness of the shells and the length of time I've been planning it. He deserves it anyway. Oh, incase you don't get it... we have the same initials, and with the ideas and the sharing, I thought it's more like a multiplication than an addition, so I wrote rm2 in a love letter 12 1/2 years ago and it stuck.

What he doesn't know is that there's more coming. I'm on a roll. Don't tell, if you have an opportunity to, that is.

Frogged! Starting Again.

So, I've pulled it out because the thing is smaller than my pattern. And I've wondered if it will do, and thought it might... and wondered. But no! It will last for years and must be right! So, zip!

I have printed out some correct graph and will re-do the pattern tomorrow at work. Check here for updates and whereto's.

Note: The second 'lozenge' shaped row looks better with the stitch in the middle huh? And I discovered that the rib looks better on the other side! Hmmpft!

Got The Colours Now For Goodnesses Sake!

This colour choice has been a saga. I have smoky grey, pink, apricot and two yellows spare, all bought thinking they might fit in. Ha ha ha! Plus I have a number of excellent books on Fair Isle and the history of knitting. It's lovely but little bit sad history. From a good living to be made to nothing. Queen Elizabeth I refused a patent for a stocking knitting machine and delayed the demise of the hand-knitting industry for 200 years. Bloody Industrial Revolution! The Revolution has a lot to answer for. And no, I won't listen to how it helped.

I love this from 'The Old Hand-Knitters of the Dales' (Yorkshire Dales), about how these knitters would re-knit a jumper just for a change and how delightful it was to behold:

A dalesman's daughters, whom we know, think nothing of frequently unravelling complicated Fair Isle patterned jumpers and knitting the wool up again in differnet styles. But 'things were made to wear then' and we think of Mr. William Gill as he sat on the edge of the sofa saying, 'What a change! What a change!'

The Painting I carried For 10 kilometres Through Paris

He's a bit of a gay boy huh? Or is it just the times, the court etc. It's not old old old, so it's a copy of a style, but I really like him and he's going in the bedroom when it's renovated. Why not now? Well, it needs a little restoring and I might bling it up a little. And I'll have to convince the One True, who doesn't like it.

The Bayeux Tapestry

I have to talk a bit about the Bayeux Tapestry, now that I have a moment. If you happen to get over there ever, you must go up to Bayeux in Normandy and see it. It's amazing! Any historian, art lover or embroiderer will find it so. Just the graphics and the storytelling expertise... the cartoon, is succinct and has incredible movement. The ebb and flow of the battle, for example, takes you along at an amazing pace. Some small images describe a lot with incidental details. I want to see it again.

Even thought I know it quite well, to see it in one continuous length, rather than on pages, makes a huge difference. Huge. Have a look here too, and explore.

You'll love the town as well.

I've just been Googling the tapestry to find out more, and have found a heap of other similar works, modern, done to depict the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie (Prestonpans Tapestry)and there's the Quaker Tapestry. I thought I might have a go at our Family Dinner, which is always full of movement and activity!