A week gone, and nothing much to show for it

Do you ever have one of those weeks where you are busy, sometimes chasing-your-tail-busy, and at the end of the week there isn't much to show for it?  That was my week.

Last night's choir concert/party was fun, my song was well received, and now there is no singing for a couple of weeks.  The room we use is being renovated - something which was to have been finished several weeks ago, but which had not yet been started when we were in it on Thursday night - and our leader is having eye surgery.  We will miss our choral evenings.

This is my sparkly brooch, worn last night pinned to a lime green silk scarf.  A gen-u-ine 1960s design which is now quite sought-after, if online listings are anything to go by.  I don't know if this is the original box - there is no brand or other information, not even the name of the jeweller who sold it.

This morning my wool order arrived.....is it not bewdiful?  A mix of green, blue and a little purple.  Perhaps it will become a jumper.....

.....or perhaps a cardigan......yet to be decided.  Those big balls are 200 grams each, so not many ends have to be darned in to finish.

The jumper currently on the needles is having its neckband knitted; holding an almost-completed jumper on one's lap is quite warm, and evenings this week haven 't been too freezy.  (Mornings have been freezy frosty chilly, but then I don't knit first thing in the morning.)    Diamonds have been cut. Those yellow sashings which were cut too long have been shortened, and are now - fingers and toes crossed - the correct lengths.  Words have been read.  

The coming week looks like being even busier, too.  Activities which are suspended during school holidays will resume....there is a legal appointment to amend our wills now that there has been a marriage break-up in the family (not ours, I hasten to add)......monthly sewing guild.....quilt group next Saturday......volunteering......if I'm really lucky I may have a chance to turn around and scratch myself, as the old saying goes.  The plan (the hope!) had been to make a start on sewing those blue and green blocks, but alas - it was not to be.  

Never mind, it will happen in due course.  I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't find it easy to use a machine in the evenings when my eyes are tired; it's too easy to make mistakes, as I have learned in the past.  Evenings are for hand work, whether sewing or knitting.

We took advantage of a slight lull earlier today to fit in some hunting and gathering while we could.  As we were leaving the car park we were surprised to see, parked well away from other cars - a Rolls Royce!  Not something one usually sees in the supermarket car park in a country town, for sure; the usual selection of (slightly boring) cars doesn't usually include Rollers.  There was someone sitting in the driver's seat, and we couldn't decide if it was the owner or perhaps a chauffeur.  If it was a chauffeur that would mean the owner was inside hunting and gathering with the hoi polloi - and surely that would never do, would it?

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"Ladies should not monopolize the time and attention of salesmen in small talk, while other customers are in the shop to be waited upon."

These quotes show that sales staff were male, as the word 'salesman' or 'salesmen' is used.  I would have thought that some shops were using female staff even back in the 1880s - surely goods being marketed to women - women's and children's clothing, fabrics, household furnishings, etc. - might have been sold by female staff?

Enjoy your days!

It's been said before....

....and no doubt will be said again......if I had half a brain, I would be dangerous.

All the narrow sashes for between the house quilt blocks were cut last weekend.  The shorter sashings had already been attached to the left side of each and every block, and the blocks joined into rows.  On Tuesday at quilt group one more sashing was sewn to the right side of every row so now all the blocks are sashed vertically, if one can have 'vertical' in an on point setting.  That just leaves the long strips for joining the rows into a quilt top.  (I dislike the term 'flimsy' used for quilt tops.  Believe me, there is nothing flimsy or insubstantial about this one.)  The shorter strips were the length of the blocks, so were all cut nine inches.  All well and good.  Hunky dory, one might say.

When cutting the longer strips a little voice in the back of my brain said to me "you need to allow nine inches for each block width, plus the half inch sashings, plus two times one quarter inch for the two outer seams".  Calculations were calculated and strips cut.  

However.....when I went to attach the first strip it's too long......because the blocks are not nine inches between the sashings, they are eight and a half inches.  That's what happens when one doesn't measure, one just assumes the guess is right - so now each and every one of those strips will need to be measured again, and shortened.

Oh well......although I suppose it's better than cutting them too short, isn't it?  Silver linings and all that stuff, but still....

Sigh.

I want to start sewing the green and blue blocks, but those sashings need to be corrected first.

My jumper is now being seamed in preparation for knitting the neckband.  Having the weight of a whole jumper on one's lap is really good on a chilly night.  Words have been read.  No diamonds have been cut or joined this week.  Ukulele groups aren't meeting because it's school holidays and some folk have grandparent duty, so it's a quiet couple of weeks.  A little hunting and gathering has been indulged in, although I'm not sure that 'indulged' is the right word for a foray into the supermarket during holiday time when some of the kiddie-widdies are a bit feral.

Some plinking will be done this week as the choir is having a 'Christmas in July' hooley next Saturday night, and I have been asked to reprise my recent prize-winning performance.  It's probably a good idea to practice before that so as not to make a complete and utter fool of myself, yes?  It has been suggested that we wear 'bright clothes', something not easy during the dead of winter.  I have a purple lightweight wool jumper, and a lime green silk scarf, and a sparkly brooch which was my mother's, so that should do nicely; if memory serves me correctly I may have given her that brooch a long time ago either for a birthday or for Mother's Day.  Some of those vintage brooches are quite sought-after now.

Wearing a brooch isn't 'done' as much these days as it used to be, is it?  I wear brooches in winter because they set off a plain jumper or jacket nicely, but summer clothing fabrics don't always lend themselves to a brooch.  Woven fabrics are usually sturdy enough to have a brooch pinned on, but not knits.

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"It is an insult for the salesman to offensively suggest that you can not do better elsewhere, which should be resented by instant departure."

Indeed.  If it is suggested that I may get a better price or article elsewhere, I shall be off post haste to find out if this is so.

Enjoy your days!

Sleepy wombat comes home

My baby wombat drawing, a birthday gift from our older son, is back from the framer.  It is really cute.

Isn't that sweet?  It's not on the wall yet as I need to find just the right spot to hang it, which is why the protective corners are still in place.  The mat and frame colours were chosen to compliment the muted tones of the little feller; much as I like bright colours they would have been out of place here.

The artist's label is on the back.  Hopefully it's legible, as the 'low battery' light was flashing while I was taking this pic.

Although it says 'Common Wombat' the preferred term is now 'Bare Nosed Wombat'.  Unfortunately they aren't as common as they used to be, and this also differentiates them from Southern and Northern Hairy Nosed Wombats which are two different species again.

Have you all been as busy this week as I have?  In addition to the usual Stuff like hunting and gathering, the ukulele group had its retirement village gig on Wednesday.  Once again our audience enjoyed our performance - they are very responsive, and enjoyed singing along.

We joke among ourselves about "singing for the oldies", but then we remember some of the folk living in these places are younger than we are!  At afternoon tea the woman next to me started chatting, we realised we had been in high school together....and she was in the year behind me, so that makes her younger.  What a hoot.

Our musical friend came for a couple of days, and we attended a house concert in which he played; that was a fun night, and also an opportunity to catch up with some folk we hadn't seen for a while.  After hopefully (!) sorting out his car's oil issues he departed late on Friday morning, and that evening I realised he still had our spare house key.  I sent him a message....."oh gosh yes, I do" he said, "I'll send it back when I get home"......"don't worry", I said, "you'll be back in January and you'll need it again!"  Over the past couple of years he has become a friend rather than just a guest; we enjoy having him to stay, and he enjoys staying here.

Progress on the knitting: the front of my jumper is now done, so three of the raglan seams can be sewn and stitches picked up for the neckband.  That will make a good in-front-of-TV project for the coming week.  Words have been read.  No diamonds have been cut or joined.  Many notes were plinked and sung.

The house quilt is back to the fore.  Those loooong sashing strips need to be pieced; as it's a diagonal setting the strips on either side of the centre row are quite long indeed.  However they are now done, as are the next two.  Quilt group is on Tuesday and the Cunning Plan is to work on some of the sashings while there, as it's easy mindless sewing.

Mindless anything at all is good, really......

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"Avoid talking down the prices of articles in any way.  If the price does not suit, you may say so quietly, and depart, but it is generally best to say nothing about it."

This is probably a good idea.

Enjoy your days!

Well.....

.....I won!  Yay me!!

You could have knocked me down with the proverbial feather yesterday when my name was announced as the winner of the Mature Performers' concert at the Eisteddfod.  It's a mixed bag......we had poetry reciters, solo singers and various instrumental ensembles ranging from a string ensemble to a clarinet choir, no doubt making the job of the adjudicators a bit difficult.  A bit like comparing oranges and apples, I would think.  The winner is the performer judged to be 'the most entertaining'.  I played my tenor ukulele and sang a song arrangement that I worked out a few years ago, a mix of 'Five foot two, eyes of blue' and 'Ain't she sweet' that I call 'Ain't my girl sweet'.  I could see some of the audience singing along - they even worked out how the songs twisted together, and I was given a great round of applause.

So now I have my own trophy to keep forever (still to have my name engraved), a perpetual trophy (also to be engraved with my name) that I get to keep for a year, and I was even told there will be money.  How about that?

What a year.  A few months ago my hanging won a blue ribbon at the show, then I win at the Eisteddfod.....what next, I wonder?  Where does one go from here?

Not one pic has been taken this week as it's been rather busy, as you can imagine, but we can trawl through the vaults.

Autumn in Canberra is always beautiful; it's a colder climate than here and usually puts on a great display of colour.  These pics were taken at an 'Open Garden' visit.  This has to be the most fragrant rose I have ever smelled, it was climbing along a trellis by a small lake.  If you are into roses it would make a lovely addition to your garden, just look up 'Nahema rose' for details.

 I don't know who, or what or where 'Nahema' is.

The garden had many large pine trees blocking the light and it was an overcast day, so the bright leaves on this plant really shone out.  I don't know what it is....some sort of oak, perhaps?

There was a small lake - the rose trellis was along one side of the water.

Just inside the entrance we were greeted by these colours.

The blue and green blocks currently spread out will be pinned to the sheet under them so it can be rolled up, as the spare bed they are on will be needed for a visitor this week.  I am happy with the layout as it is, and that will keep them in order until they can be sewn together.  The ukulele group has a gig during the week at a retirement complex - we have played for them before; they like our songs and they also put on a scrumptious afternoon tea for us - that will be the last of the current musical calendar for a little while, so sewing can come to the forefront again.

No diamonds have been joined and no more have been cut, although that needs to change soon.  Words have been read and stitches knitted. with not many rows remaining until the front is divided for the neck.  When I receive my prize money it may be spent on some more knitting yarn.....the blues and greens of 'Mystic' appeal to me, but then, so do some of the other colours.....decisions, decisions....

Continuing on with Etiquette of the Street:

"It is rude to sneer at and depreciate goods, and exceedingly discourteous to the salesman.  Use no deceit, but be honest with them, if you wish them to be honest with you."

Indeed.  This is one time when it is probably preferable to say nothing, rather than to be negative.  You can always vote with your feet if you are unhappy with the goods on offer.

Enjoy your days!

A mixed week

Some good things, and some sadness.

Sadness because we had to bid farewell to a good friend, who died recently.  We were unable to get to the funeral but were still able to 'attend' via the wonders of technology.  The world isn't the same without him in it, but we have many memories of sitting with him and his wife over a cuppa and home-made treats (he always enjoyed my fruit slice) here, of meeting them at country pubs for lunch, sharing drinks and dances at folk festivals, and attending concerts together.  

That recipe will be forever known as 'Colin's favourite' in our household from now on.  The recipe is tweaked every time I make it, but it is always good.

One of the good things - the last of my blue and green blocks are done, yay!

Two larger and four smaller......then came the fun of laying them out.  It's difficult to get a good pic when one is short, but a small set of steps helps a bit.  

This may not be the final layout; it will be checked occasionally before starting to sew blocks together so any tweaking as to colour and/or value can be made.  Unlike many quilts it isn't constructed in rows, so a copy has been made for drawing lines on and planning the sewing sequence.  It isn't big - 48 in by 60 in without borders, but that's big enough for a lap quilt if one doesn't have a large lap.  The illustration found online showed borders.  I  would add the link so you can see where it was found, but when I go to click on the link to "quilt for lovers" the computer says "I wouldn't go there if I were you....." so I don't.  However, you may be able to see it here.  If you lashed out at a fabric shop sale and consequently had a roll of 2-1/2 in strips sitting doing nothing, this would be a good way to use it.

Quilting decisions have been made.  I will have a go at quilting it myself using wavy lines going from one side to the other, using as many different blue and green threads as I need.  My first thought was to use one variegated thread.....but which one?  Green?  Blue?  Something in between?  The idea of using a random selection in mixed colours popped into my brain and has stayed there.  The binding may be pieced from different blue and green fabrics too.

Sewing together may not be started this week as there is other Stuff needing my attention.  Next weekend is my annual chance at fame and glory performing in the Eisteddfod, something I have been doing for several years now.  Each year I enter not expecting to win, and so far I have never been disappointed....but, just the same, it is fun.  A run-through of my chosen song a couple of times a day between now and then, and I will be good to go.  I hope.

Stitches have been knitted, my jumper is really coming along quickly considering I only knit in front of TV when there is something I want to watch - a rare occurrence these days.  Words have been read.  Diamonds have been joined but more now need to be cut.

We are now well into freezy frosty chilly season.  Mornings see us waking to a coating of white on anything left outside, while not so far away folk living in frost hollows - yes, frost hollows are a thing - are seeing morning temperatures much colder than us here in our broad valley.  Reading the forecast for later in the coming week makes me think that the Big Green Jumper may have its annual airing.  The winter solstice will happen at some ungodly hour on Thursday morning but I, for one, will not be up and dancing just before 1 a.m. when it does.

Continuing on with Shopping Etiquette:

"It is rude to interrupt friends whom you meet in a shop before they have finished their purchases, or to ask their attention to your own purchases.  It is rude to offer your opinion unasked, upon their judgement or taste, in the selection of goods."

Indeed.  You may think you have better taste than your friend, and perhaps you do, but keep that to yourself unless your friend asks for your opinion - and even then, be tactful.

Enjoy your days!

Counting down to the finish

It has turned freezy frosty chilly, something to be expected now that we are racing through June, making it good weather for inside pursuits such as sewing.  We even had some welcome rain, with more forecast.

This week's finished blocks.

Long blocks behind, small in front.  I hesitated about using the frog fabric as it's not an I-spy quilt, but it's such a fun print (and it's green!) that it had to be included.  I wasn't sure, either, about the print second from left on the top, a green design on a blue background with the blue leaning more toward purple.  Various fabrics were tried with it but in the end the decision was made to go with a sharp acid green, and I think they hold hands nicely.

If my counting is correct there are only two large and four small blocks still to be made, then they can all be laid out and Big Decisions made as to placement.

My house quilt has come back out from its box into daylight once more.  Earlier in the week was quilt group meeting day so I took along my 1950 Singer Featherweight, and tried out its new 1/4 in foot.  I am not used to a foot with an edge guide but it went well, and now all the blocks are joined into diagonal strips.  Next is to join the sashings (strips are already cut) and trim them to the lengths required; as it's set on point the two middle rows are really long.  It's going to be quite a large quilt!  For the label I am thinking of making a house block in very pale colours and embroidering the quilt's name 'There Goes The Neighbourhood' on it.  

Stitches have been knitted - the front of my jumper is now up to the decrease for the armhole, yay!  Words have been read, notes have been plinked and sung.  No diamonds have been joined, but some will be during my time at the gallery on Tuesday afternoon.  On Thursday a couple of friends called in on their way further north, we had a cuppa and some fruit slice together, then waved them off on their journey.

Over the past few years I have been noticing that more and more foods have chili in them.  Now, I have nothing against chili so long as I'm not forced to eat it; when I buy smoked salmon dip I expect it to taste of smoked salmon, not of chili.....although chili doesn't really add flavour, does it?  Just heat, which is not always needed.  In fact chili has to be up there on the list of my least favourite foods, close behind tomato - which is right at the top.  One of my earliest memories is of my mother holding me down with one hand and trying to force-feed me tomato with the other.  I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now.  Don't like the taste, definitely don't like the texture.

I much prefer chocolate.....

This week will be marked by a sad farewell to a good friend, one who enjoyed sharing a cuppa and a piece of fruit slice with us.  I hope the fruit slice is waiting for him, wherever he is.

Continuing on with Shopping Etiquette:

"You should never take hold of a piece of goods or an article which another person is examining.  Wait until it is replaced upon the counter, when you are at liberty to examine it."

That is excellent advice.  If the other person buys the article and you miss out, then it wasn't meant to be yours.  If, on the other hand, you succeed in purchasing it - it was definitely for you.

Enjoy your days!

Turns out I'm not such a wuss, after all

No, indeed.  The figures for May were released a few days ago, and our town had its coldest average minimum May temperature for over 100 years.  We were even named in the article.  It was also the driest May since 1998, not a record we wish to break; some rain would be welcome, but no doubt it will fall in its own sweet time.

So....the week has been taken up with the usual pursuits, stitches were knitted (my jumper is coming along really well), more stitches were sewn on the machine (some blue and green blocks were made), words were read (because who doesn't like to switch off from the world by getting immersed in a book?), diamonds were joined during my volunteer time at a gallery, and notes were plinked and sung, but the room we use for choir was getting a much-needed refurbishment so no choral singing was possible.

The blue and green blocks are coming along nicely.  Thoughts will be thought about its name.

This week's finished blocks, squares on top, rectangles below.  My first block count turned out to be incorrect; I had thought that 21 rectangles and 31 squares were needed, but another count today confirms that 24 rectangles is the final number.  The squares required are still the same, 31.  The blocks fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, some rectangles are set vertically and some horizontally, which makes counting a bit tricky - there are no instructions, I'm working from a picture found online.  Another six rectangles are still to be made, and another eight squares, then laying out the blocks can be done.

The last of the pics taken at the National Rock Garden in Canberra.  This is Hawkesbury sandstone - the carved design would make a good quilting design, yes?

Many of the remaining buildings from the 1800s and early 1900s in the Big Smoke - Sydney - are made from this stone, as it relatively soft and easy to carve.  The elaborate detail so beloved of the Victorians was not too difficult to achieve.

Many of the buildings are decorated with carvings and statues, some of which look a bit overdone to our modern eyes.  However, there is no denying the skill required to make them.  Many years ago we were visiting one of Sydney's historic sites which was having maintenance work done and were pleased that they were using trainee stonemasons, a skill which is changing with time.  Older buildings need maintenance, so those skills will be in demand for a long time.

Some towns are starting to realise that those so-called "old" skills are still interesting - Bendigo is one - I would love to attend one of these.  Our local Historical Society is having its Spring Fair in September, and I have been asked to demonstrate again on one of my 1920s Singer treadle machines.  I have done so twice and it has always generated interest; many people have memories of such a machine in their family...."Mum's auntie had one but I wasn't allowed to touch it" etc.......but not many can remember seeing the machine being used.  I'm sure I could find fabric in my stash to make something......just maybe.....

The afternoon has flown by and there is a song waiting to be arranged, so before we say farewell for another week let's look at the etiquette book.  As Etiquette of the Street is now finished we move on to Shopping Etiquette:

"In inquiring for goods at a shop, do not say to salesman "I want" such an article, but, "Please show me" such an article, or some other polite form of address."

Yes indeed.  An expression which makes me grit my teeth and want to slap the person using it (including our son in Canberra) is "can I grab", as in "can I grab a coffee" to the staff at a café.  What's wrong with "May I please order a coffee"?

Enjoy your days!