Nothing much to show for the week

Do you ever have one of those weeks where you seem to be busy, but then have nothing to show for the busy-ness?  That was me, this week.....running hither and yon, lucky to fit in the odd stitch or two.  Some tail-chasing may also have come into it.

Never mind.  Onward and upward!

The heat is upon us, as is storm season.  Last night storms passed us by, probably fortunate considering there was lightning involved and everything is very dry right now.  Fires are started by lightning strikes, so we don't want them.....but a drop (or two, or three) of rain would be useful.

Our plans for celebrating Kevin's birthday changed a little.  The idea of heading up the ranges to cooler climes was attractive - but the thought of coming down again in a storm (it's a fairly steep road) did not excite us, so we had lunch at a pub in a small village just out of town.  We then went to the local French bakery for coffee and cake to finish - yummo!

So.....we will admire more of the beautiful work by the two Lauras.  This filet crochet piece was made by Kevin's grandmother Laura.  The lace design is lovely to see on a wood table, isn't it?  The flowers look like watarahs, the floral emblem of our state, making me think it could be by Mary Card, as some of her designs featured Aussie flowers.

A couple of small tatting doilies made by my Great-Aunt Laura.  I have always liked this one with its lace centre.

Another with a linen centre, a little larger.

I like the contrast in texture of the linen and lace.  The colour of these two is probably what was called 'ecru' which used to mean the colour of unbleached linen, a light tan, but it seems that its meaning has changed over time and now the word refers to a different shade.  

As well as Auntie Laura's tatting, threads, shuttle and crochet hooks I have one of her books of tatting designs written by Aussie designer Norma Benporath who had many tatting designs in several publications, despite having only 60% sight in one eye, and who lived from 1900-1998.  Despite have a lot of designs to her name and being well known in the tatting community there doesn't seem to be a lot written about her, just little snippets here and there.

Of late I have been wondering what will happen to this lovely work when I am gone.  I have no female descendents and doubt very much that either of my sons will want it.  Perhaps it's time to start looking at museums to see if any of them would be interested - one museum in the Big Smoke has quite a collection of lace; I was there one day when I just happened upon the lace rooms and was was fortunate to be shown drawers and drawers of beautiful lace, some of it several centuries old.

Stitches have been sewn, diamonds have been cut but more need to be done.  Words have been read.  Notes have been plinked and sung, and some of the Many Piles Of Music have been sorted; those piles have been threatening to take over the universe and I couldn't find the particular songs I wanted, so putting them in order is a good thing.  Blocks have been made for the quilt group, so my halo is shining.....but eventually I will be able to get back to my own Stuff when those blocks are finally finished, and it will shine even brighter.  

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"Opening the door for a lady.

A gentleman should always hold open the door for a lady to enter first.  This is obligatory, not only in the case of the lady who accompanies him, but also in that of any strange lady who chances to be about to enter at the same time."

Having a door held is helpful if one is carrying something.  I myself have held the door for others, whether they are burdened with parcels (or even a small child in arms) or not.

Enjoy your days!

Follow the yellow brick road to the neighbourhood

How are you all this week?  

During the week some of the house blocks were sewn into rows, and I can honestly say I have never used such narrow sashing before ever never.  It finishes at just one half inch wide.

However - the blocks are busy and the sashing is bright so that narrow sashing is, like Goldilocks, just right.  Oh, what a poet I am!

The plan (the hope!) is to get more rows joined this week, and to soon start cutting strips for the long sashings between diagonal rows.

Another piece of Kevin's grandmother Laura's filet crochet.....the flowers look like poinsettias, don't they.  This is a small piece, just the right size to sit on a circular tray adorned with a blue vase.

There are many different types of lace.  This tatting was made by my great-aunt Laura, who died in 1948; her tatting is beautiful.  I have two of this design.

Some of her unfinished pieces in pink and cream......

.....this is also pink, the same colour as in the pic above.

More unfinished work, and some of her unused 80 and 100 threads.

There were also some very fine metal crochet hooks with the threads when they came to me, they are now with my own (chunkier!) hooks.  Crochet hooks are used to join pieces of tatting.  I also have her tatting shuttle made from - possibly - Xylonite, one of the synthetic materials popular in the Art Deco era of the 1920s-1930s.

In 'Gone with the wind' Scarlett O'Hara is mentioned as having made "yards and yards of tatting" to sell at a fundraising bazaar.  Perhaps it was a narrow edging intended for trimming a handkerchief - or even for sprucing up a lady's unmentionables.  I remember my mother having a long nightdress made of delicate cream fabric trimmed with darker cream tatting, which was made for her mid-1940s trousseau.  My mother didn't sew but her mother Edith did, so perhaps the nightie was made by Edith and trimmed by Edith's sister Laura.  It was probably in the clothes passed on to charity after my mother's death.

Diamonds have been joined, but more need to be cut.  Words have been read.  Notes have been plinked and sung.  No stitches have been knitted but that may change on Tuesday - Kevin's birthday - as we plan to go for a Nice Sunday Drive and have lunch somewhere, and I usually knit on trips.  

Summer's heat is well and truly upon us now, but now that February is upon us and days are getting shorter there is the promise of autumn to come.  In this heat gadding about early is the Thing To Do - not an easy thing when one is not a morning person, but preferable to gadding later in the day when the temperature is fierce.

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"Keeping step.

In walking together, especially when arm in arm, it is desirable that the two keep step.  Ladies should be particular to adapt their pace, as far as practicable, to that of their escort.  It is easily done."

It is probably also "easily done" for a gentleman to adapt his steps to that of a lady.  Why should the woman always have to be the one to adapt?

Enjoy your days!

That's one twelfth of the year done and dusted

Here we are, charging into February......I could have sworn we were celebrating New Year just a few minutes ago!  Many cultures are cultures are, however, celebrating Lunar New Year, this year is the year of the rabbit or the cat, depending on the country.

Choir is back, both ukulele groups are back.  Life has settled down into its usual busy-ness, and it can get quite busy at times.

Stitches have been stitched, diamonds have been joined, but nothing is yet photograph-worthy.  Words have been read.  Notes have been sung and plinked.

Another example of Kevin's grandmother Laura's beautiful crochet.

A pretty carnation and dragonfly pattern, in an octagonal shape....fairly sure I remember this being displayed on a small table in Kevin's parents' home.  It, too, was possibly designed by Mary Card.

My maternal grandmother had a sister Laura, born in 1883 just a few years after Kevin's grandmother Laura, who was born in 1880.  Laura was obviously a popular name in the 1880s - isn't it interesting how names are cyclical, how their popularity comes and goes?  The name Laura, it seems, has Latin origins; Daphne is the same name in Greek, my mother had a friend named Daphne.

I went through school with several other girls named Jennifer, it was a favourite in the late 1940s-early 1950s; most of them were Jennifer Ann/e or Jennifer Margaret, so my name Jennifer Grace was a bit different.  Perhaps we can thank (or blame!) actress Jennifer Jones, who was popular at the time.....but whose real name wasn't Jennifer at all, it was Phyllis.  Phyllis Grace......ah, no.  Phyllis was my mother's generation, not mine.

My grandmothers were Edith (maternal) and Florence Gordon (paternal), my mother was Mavis Eileen.  My maternal grandmother had no middle name, while my paternal grandmother's middle name of Gordon may have come from her father's Scottish family.  One of my paternal grandmother Florence's sisters was called......wait for it......Australia!  Not an uncommon name in the later years of the nineteenth century when the Australian colonies were heading toward federation, it was given to both girls and boys.

This morning we had a foretaste of autumn, a cooler start to the day.  We know warmer weather will be with us for a while yet, but now it's February we can say 'next month will be cooler'.  Meanwhile, I know some of you on the far side of the known universe from here are suffering through snow and ice storms which make for beautiful pictures, but oh - it does look cold!

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"Offering the arm to a lady.

A gentleman should, in the evening, or whenever her safety, comfort or convenience seems to require it, offer a lady companion his arm.  At other times it is not customary to do so unless the parties be husband and wife or engaged.  In the latter cases, it is not always advisable to do so, as they may be made the subject of unjust remarks."

Why would a couple be subject of unjust remarks if they are married or engaged?  Seems a bit odd to me, but obviously times were different then.

Enjoy your days!

Back to normal programming

Or what passes for normal here.

The music festival has happened, our musical guest has been and gone - and what fun that was, we shared many laughs over many a cuppa while he was here - and our quiet life has resumed once more.

We went to a few concerts which we really enjoyed, and kept out of the way of noisy places.  It has been said "if it's too loud you're too old".....but I beg to differ; back in my younger days when I used to go to concerts and dances amplification equipment was nowhere near as loud as it is nowadays, and my hearing wasn't damaged as a result.  Earphones were a thing of the future too, we didn't spend our time with sound cranked up to an unbearable volume ringing in our ears.  

Some stitching has happened, diamonds have been cut and joined.  No stitches were knitted, although they will be when summer isn't so fiercely warm.  Words have been read.  Notes have been plinked and sung.

The house blocks were laid out and pinned into rows, the sewing of which will commence before too long.  There are eleven diagonal rows labelled by small pieces of leftover fabrics with numbers written on using fabric pen.  They were made when my tumbler quilt was being laid out and were going to be tossed once it was joined, but a little voice in the back of my brain said "hang on......don't do that, those labels can be used again....and again" and sure enough, they are.  Being fabric they will not tear like paper labels would.

On the last post I mentioned Mary Card and her beautiful crochet designs.  This mat, made by Kevin's maternal grandmother, is possibly another of her designs.  It sits on top of my bedside chest, and is made from very very fine thread.

Such exquisite work should be celebrated and enjoyed.  Many years ago when my brothers and I were clearing out my mother's house after her death I took the beautiful lace - tatted and crocheted - and embroidery work, mostly made by my mother's aunts.  My sister-in-law (who has an opinion on everything) said "I don't want any of that old stuff"....which was good, because I was prepared to take it by force if necessary.  But....when I am gone who will get it?  I have no daughters or granddaughters to inherit any of my Stuff.  If it ends up an an op shop it may be bought by someone who loves it, and that's fine by me.  Better that than having an unwanted bequest dumped on you, yes?

It's not very often I have a win, but I had one recently.  Just after Christmas I ordered black cropped pants online because the local store had none.  The money was quickly taken from our account but no pants arrived, and no notification of a post tracking number to let me know my order was on its way.  So....a few weeks later I rang their 'contact us' number and was told, we don't have your goods.  We are looking in our distribution centres.  Ring us again in about seven days.  That was when a little something went 'ping' in my brain and I interrupted her....."no....no.....no" I said....."I will not ring you.  You will contact me.  You have taken my money and have not supplied the goods I ordered.  If you cannot do so, then I want my money back."  I was not rude, but by heck I was firm.

And a couple of days later that money was back in our account!  But I still have no black pants.....

Contrast that with an order placed on Monday evening for a few sets of ukulele strings from an interstate dealer, which were in my hands by lunchtime on Friday.  I love the email I received from them - "Congratulations on your order Jennifer, you Ukulele Rockstar you!"  How could you not shop from someone with such a fun attitude and such excellent service?  There is a music store here but they have proven to be unhelpful and unreliable (and they don't call me a ukulele rockstar), so I shop elsewhere.  

Summer's heat has arrived, and with it some quite fearsome storms with lights and music echoing from the clouds and rolling around the hills.  There have been some spectacular pics on social media of the lightning a couple of nights ago.....a shame that thunder can't be photographed too!

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"Lady and gentleman walking together.

A gentleman walking with a lady should treat her with the most scrupulous politeness, and may take either side of the walk.  It is customary for the gentleman to have the lady on his right hand side, and he offers her his right arm, when walking arm in arm.  If, however, the street is crowded, the gentleman must keep the lady on that side of him where she will be the least exposed to crowding."

Yes indeed.  A lady does not like to be crowded.

Enjoy your days!

Back into the neighbourhood

How is everyone this week?  Our weather is warming up somewhat but not - yet - unbearably so; there were complaints from some locals before Christmas that "we haven't had a summer.....whinge, moan......" but I for one wasn't complaining about our late cool start to the season.  Some rain would be good, though; since the flooding rain stopped it has been quite dry, and our skin and our hair are complaining about that.

On Tuesday the house blocks and their sashing, together with my Singer Featherweight, were packed up and taken to quilt group where sashing was sewn onto several blocks.  The last blocks and sashing are being worked on in the sewing room as we speak, or will be after I finish here.

Being an older Singer it doesn't have a 1/4 in foot, the foot is 1/4 in wide on the left and 1/8 in on the right, but the bed is wide enough - and the blocks still small enough - to sew from the 'other' side.  This pic shows one block under the needle, one waiting its turn on the left, and a few completed blocks at the back.  

It's going to be a very colourful quilt.

Diamonds have been cut and sewn.  The guitar block needs a little modification, which has been partly done.  No stitches have been knitted.  Words have been read.  Music has been played and sung, as we have a gig next Sunday morning.

Now that the Christmas wombats and Flossie their Guardian Angel have been packed up for another year, I thought it was time to change the cloth on my grandmother's 1925 Singer treadle machine where they were sitting.  I have a few embroidered and lace cloths so, as wood can stain them, a plain blue cloth was spread first then a crochet linen cloth on top.  The crochet cloth came to me from my mother and - I think - was made by one of her aunts.

As I stood back and admired it a thought popped into my head out of nowhere (as they often do) that I had read about an Australian woman who, 100 years or so ago, made quite a name for herself as a crochet designer.  Her name was Mary Card, and this may be one of her designs.  

Mard Card was a superstar in her day; she was known around the world for her beautiful designs.  Some were designed for the country where she was living at the time, as she was very good at tapping into people's patriotism.  This page has very good information, too.

I like the fact that after so long Mary Card's name is still known around the world and her designs still admired, to the extent that finished articles can be bought online for hundreds of dollars.  

We also have a larger cloth, a tulip design, which came from Kevin's maternal grandmother who was known in the family for her beautiful crochet work.  It, too, may be a Mary Card design.

These are filet crochet, I've tried filet - it's the crochet equivalent of counted cross stitch.  The wrinkled cloth between the crochet panels is linen; I think the wrinkles are caused by differences in tension between it and the crochet.  Probably wouldn't hurt to kiss it with an iron, either.  One day.....

No doubt a cloth such as this would have been spread for a genteel afternoon tea served in dainty cups, saucers and plates, while a little genteel character assassination may have been indulged in about those absent.....can't you just imagine it?  "Oh Mabel, did you see what Gladys wore to church last Sunday?  And her top button was undone, I'm sure the minister in the pulpit had a good eyeful!"

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"Talking with a lady in the street.

In meeting a lady it is optional with her whether she shall pause to speak.  If the gentleman has anything to say to her, he should not stop her, but turn around and walk in her company until he has said what he has to say, when he may leave her with a bow and a lift of the hat."

There is obviously a reason why a gentleman should not detain a lady to talk to her, but it was quite correct to walk with her....however, that reason escapes me.

Enjoy your days!