the beauty of nature

No craft for me today...

Just some quiet time to breathe... and reflect on the beauty around me...



I'm missing Mum terribly at the moment. It's only been seven short weeks since she passed away, and yet it feels like a lifetime since I last saw her.

I think that's why I am so drawn to this photograph at the moment. The butterfly is an exquisite yet delicate creature, a symbol of new life, re-birth and hope... some would say the very personification of your soul.

This particular shot was taken a couple of years ago in the Butterfly House at the Royal Melbourne Zoo. It is the Cairns Birdwing, which is the largest species of butterfly in Australia. I don't need a degree in 'sexing butterflies' to know that this one is a male... the females are not nearly so colourful!

when I was a girl...

I loved my childhood bedroom...

Bear in mind, we are going back to the mid seventies here...

I can still picture it now... The walls are decorated with purple and white vertical striped wallpaper... There is a dresser which is painted white... and the drawers are purple... On top of the dresser is my purple alarm clock... On the polished floorboards lies a purple shaggy rug... And my bed is covered by the most magnificent knitted patchwork blanket.

I was so delighted with that blanket. Mum made it for me. I thought she was so clever. It must have taken her years to complete. Hundreds and hundreds of 'autumn leaf' motifs... individually knit and then stitched together.

Well, actually... it wasn't completed. She didn't quite get around to doing the edging.



See the zig-zag look to the edge? Mum had made a bunch of half motifs which were to be sewn along the sides to fill in those gaps and give a straight edge to the blanket. But they were never sewed on... and I can't say I blame her... after all the sewing she had already put into the afghan, the thought of doing any more would have been a nightmare!

Unfortunately, the years have taken their toll on the blanket. Quite a number of the motifs have become damaged and are needing replaced. So this is my winter goal. To replace the damaged motifs, and add an edging to the blanket. It's the perfect project for this time of year. The evenings here are getting so cold now. It will be nice to sit with that blanket on top of me, while I make the repairs.



I still have the original pattern.



It was published in the Australian Women's Weekly... August 2, 1972.



I was so inspired by mum's efforts that when I had my first child, I decided to make an 'autumn leaf' afghan for his room. I wasn't quite as committed as mum though, and I ended up with a much smaller sized throw.



Every now and then, I fancy making another one. I've been thinking that it would be quite fun to make about ten 'autumn leaves' from each jumper that I recycle... and then when I have gathered enough... join them all together into a spectacular rug. It would look magnificent, and have so much character!

happy birthday to me!

My birthday is always a time of reflection for me.

I am in a much happier place than I was this time last year. So much has changed for me, not physically but emotionally and spiritually. I have learned to truly appreciate what a wonderful life I've been blessed with. It's a work in progress, of course, but that's how it should be!

Craft has been a huge focus for me this year. I've always enjoyed a variety of activities from embroidery to scrapbooking, tapestry, knitting, card making and calligraphy... just to name a few. But recently I've discovered how important a role that craft plays in my life.

Firstly relaxation. I can use craft to help me 'cope' with life! If I need to take my mind off things, I can work on a complex pattern, detailed work, or a project that I can just lose myself in for hours. If I need to assess a particular situation or make some important decisions, I can choose a simple mindless project - one which keeps my hands busy, but leaves my mind clear to do what it needs to do. I've discovered that I can get quite nervous about certain situations, and that crafting beforehand has a really soothing effect on me. Sometimes that means crocheting in the car when we are on our way to a function, but only if Mr Goldfish is driving!

Also confidence. I'm damn good at what I do! It's taken so many years for me to be able to say that. People have always complimented me on my craft, but my response has been "anyone can do this" or "it's so easy" or "I just followed a pattern". Not any more. I craft - I do it well - and I thank you for your compliments. I'm proud of my work and I want to show it to the world.

Stimulation. I have been so stimulated by my craft this year, and I have the internet to thank for that. Especially Ravelry. If you enjoy knitting and crochet, and haven't been introduced to Ravelry yet... go there now!
Essentially it's a knitting and crochet community. But so much more. It's a fabulous place to showcase your work, be inspired by others, and meet like minded souls. Want to knit up a particular pattern? Check it out on Ravelry first. See how the pattern has worked for others, the alterations they made, any problems they encountered. A couple of the groups I have joined within Ravelry such as Oddballs and Silly String have fabulous monthly challenges. The challenges have inspired me to go beyond my comfort zone. To stretch and grow and achieve things I never would have imagined possible.

Appreciation. Focusing on using recycled materials has really made me look at everything around me in a new light. I'm learning to appreciate the simple things, and to look beyond the obvious. There is a great sense of achievement and pride which comes from working with these materials. To take something that others are ready to throw away, and turn it into something beautiful... or useful... or both. It's a way of life for me now.

a time of planning

Happy New Year to all!

I'm not much of a one for making New Year's Resolutions. There never seemed to be much point. Traditionally they are all broken by the end of January anyway!

But I do have plans for this year... mostly regarding my craft.

#1. 'finish what you start'

Anyone who knows me well will be rolling around on the floor in hysterics at this suggestion! I am notoriously bad when it comes to finishing anything... fabulous at starting projects, but not so good on the follow through! So let's take it easy and just start with January. A time for finishing. I have 10 WIPs on my ravelry project page in various stages of completion. They will be finished by the end of this month. I will also reclaim yarn from four jumpers. Plus I have a pair of sock club socks to knit and a woolaholics lace swap item to make. Nothing new is cast on until ALL of those projects are completed!

#2. focus on reclaimed and recycled materials

Having learned to appreciate the art of reclaiming yarns... I love it! So it's my focus from here on in to use them wherever possible.

#3. share my patterns with the world

Why not? I have certainly appreciated finding so many free online patterns, so it's time to 'pass it on' and share some of my own. Knit and crochet.

So... that's for starters! Time to get busy.

a time of reflection

The excitement of Christmas has passed, and a time of reflection begins.

Reflection on the year that was.

A big year for me... in terms of self-development.

I finally reached the point of seeking professional help for my depression. Depression that has plagued me for my entire adult life, although I tried to deny its existence. It was easy to deny it a lot of the time, because I didn't know any different. I knew that things weren't quite right... but I thought that it was a character flaw in me, that I somehow needed to try harder. And after so many years of 'trying' and failing... it was such a relief to finally have a medical diagnosis! To realise that there was a chemical imbalance in my brain that no amount of 'trying' was going to fix, it didn't matter how many self-help books I read about 'dealing with anger' or 'how to be happy'... I needed professional help.

Anti-depressants have changed my world... they've changed the way I look at the world... I see possibilities and hope everywhere... I no longer feel like a ticking time bomb. It is taking some time to find a balance in terms of the right dosage, but I see potential and hope, and I feel love. In essence, I feel alive.