Friday, April 26, 2013

yarning along

Joining Ginny for her Yarn Along:
Mr P's pixie hat (a free pattern by Triskele Threads: ravelled here) is slowly coming along.
I had to pull out once as my gauge was totally off (when will I learn to swatch for hats...)!
I'm using Malabrigo Worsted in American beauty red, a most delicious colour!
 Bedtime reading: Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo by Alison Lester. Ms Lester is a great favourite at our house! This one is set in the Northern Territory (croc country) and it reminds me of our wonderful camping holidays up there!

Other highlights of the week so far...leggings! (never too late to become a fashion blog, I say!)
Yep! Melbourne designed and made: Parrot Says. My girls love them!


and finally, my gorgeous girls loving their music on You Tube:




Tuesday, April 23, 2013

persian prose to pixie hats

Last week I had my first full week of work as a casual Steiner teacher and it was big for me! I wasn't looking for work, it just came my way, and I gingerly accepted the challenge, knowing in my heart I could do it, but unable to ignore the voice inside reminding me I hadn't been in a classroom for quite some time.
So, I studied up recorder, times tables and decimal fractions,  immersed myself in Ancient Persian mythology and dived on in!
Here are some photos of the work we did!

not my blackboard drawing, this one.

 I used Charles Kovaks' book, Ancient Mythologies as inspiration for the Persian mythology, telling stories about the creation of the earth by Ahura Mazdao,  the domestication of animals and the first bonfire!

We also explored the land of contrasts which is Persia (Iran) and drew a map. What fun.


 We tried a form drawing of a Persian star, with the help of a bowl and a ruler.
It's always so wonderful seeing the differences coming out in the children's creative work.



As soon as the week was over, I dived for the knitting needles, and quickly cast on a pixie hat for Mr P: Triskele Threads' new free Ravelry pattern Pixie Tadhg

Reading: or should I say, re-reading, one of our all time favourites!
"Dominic" by the most exquisite William Steig.
Everyone needs to read this book!! I mean it!
It is sublime story about a philosophical dog who sets out to discover the world. At once calming, and lyrical, whimsical and contemplative, healing and utterly charming, Dominic is a special read for all ages!
I started to read it to my class last week, and it made lumps in my throat as always.

Joining in Nicole for "Keep Calm Craft On" and Ginny's Yarn Along

Saturday, April 13, 2013

{this moment}

joining SouleMama
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Friday, April 12, 2013

possibly the most beautiful shop on earth...

Yesterday my young Mr.P and I took a drive up to the forest, Kallista, specifically to visit my dear friend Mirakye.

You see, Mirakye has what might possibly be the most beautiful shop on earth.
The name of her shop is Epoche, and her motto is "beauty, spirit, wonder....".
And do you know, those three words exactly describe the feeling upon entering her warm, welcoming treasure cave of glowing golden light!

 


there she is, the miraculous angel Mirakye

oh no! Sophie Digard...someone cut up my credit card...now!



Oh my LORD! A felted wren!
I am very excited because I invited myself to be a guest blogger on her upcoming blog! I have ideas about birthday gift posts, party games and craft tutorials, so, as they say, watch this space to watch that space!

oh, and below is a first attempt at a Persian design (form drawing) in preparation for some surprise teaching which has come my way! Holy Mother of Chalkboards, I've got a bit of practice to do!

Friday, April 5, 2013

a sea breath or, knitting elsewhere

We went to the beach for a couple of days, just enough to see the forest for the trees, well and the curly ferns too!

and have a bit of peaceful knitting time on a different comfy lounge! heaven!

 I'm back working on Lyttelton by Kate Davies, a fantastic shrug with cables AND lace! Not so difficult once you get into the swing of it either. I'm trying out the Quince and Co Tern (silk/wool) in Backbay colour for this one. Not sure I like it so very much but I'll wait and see how it washes. I hope it softens up. If I was to knit again (god forbid!) I think I'd choose a sproingy sock yarn like madelinetosh sock
ravelled here
I've been reading Elizabeth Zimmerman's most charming natterings in the Knitter's Almanac. I just love her so much! Her words have such a warmth and friendliness, it's as though you are sitting in front of an open fireplace knitting with her!

On the way home we visited a gorgeous lighthouse, called affectionately by the locals as "The White Queen",  built in 1890 to guide the ships along the Bass Strait. I have a fondness for lighthouses. Kate Davies of Needled (and the designer of my current knitting project) featured the cute stout little lighthouses by the Stevenson family in Scotland in her wonderful book, Colours of Shetland. I love her design for the sweater and gauntlets, and intend to make them, one day.....


 Joining Ginny for her Yarn Along


and Nicole of Frontier Dreams' "Keep Calm Craft On"