Crossing over with some helpful stitches...

Around the age of 9, a child reaches a place of "crossing" over, or out of the dreamy realm of childhood. There seems to have opened up within the child a quiet space which no-one can know about but themselves. If we make a cross gesture across our chest with our arms, we can feel the presence of an internal space within our heart. To a child who has hitherto had an open connection to all around her, this discovery of a private space can be quite a shock, and a new responsibility to bear. This can be a trying time for a child, when nightmares arise, fears of death, of being abandoned, wondering if they were indeed adopted, and of questioning the dreamy realm of magic and wonder which just slipped a little into memory...

In the Steiner/Waldorf school curriculum, the cross as a gesture is made wherever possible by the child, to meet them at this stage, as support, and bringing this new consciousness into the limbs, in fact, the whole body.

Running figure eights as a class, with the challenge of running through each other without colliding, and in craft, cross stitch. The children make their own knitting bag, decorating the front folding panel with a simple, symmetrical design using crosses. A single thread is used for the first time, requiring more attention to the work than previously.  The bag will house the future knitting and crochet works in progress. It feels good to have made a bag like this: waiting to protect treasured new inspirations, delicate works unfolding. I can imagine a nine year old being pleased with this also.
Mine already has the next Class 4 project: Fair Isle Knitting.

{this moment}

{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.

inspired by SouleMama 

a still room

noticing the need for creating a space in my life for contemplation.
contemplating ways to remember to be a good person.
wondering about the point of deciding to speak, think or act and where and how the stream of goodness flows in...

High Craft Houses-Northern Exposure 2011

In a window at the top of the hill are "high craft" dwellings.
Lillipudlian fantasies,
oh, to slip inside and take a peek...alas, this cannot be!

Northern Exposure 2011

in celebration of Elizabeths...

we had a holiday today, spent winding wool, knitting neglected socks working up to the knee at a snail's pace and finishing cardigans.

 

more knitting, and city snaps

mother had a precious day off! you only turn forty two once in ya life, and I pipped off a great birthday week, yes, week, with a three hour pamper in the city, hot oil massage scrub you name it! all cosy with freshly laundered waffle-cotton robes of white. you get the idea...

and a meander through Melbourne's laneways, and a spot of knitting in public in preparation for the big day on Saturday.

Sweet Peasy

no words, just knitting...

Ravelled here