Yummy Yarn: Pacific Mist

Last Wednesday I got together with my sister in law and another friend to do some yarny stuff (I know I do not talk about it much, but I crochet nearly everyday - I love it!). The plan for the day: talk, feed babies (not me!), cuddle babies (I got to do that though!), knit, eat, crochet, dye boring yarns to make them pretty. 

I only had one teeny 50gram (100m) ball of cream yarn, bought for $2 at an Op Shop (charity shop). It was a good brand - Cleckheaton - and pure wool AND machine wash. Bargain! But a bit boring... I forgot to take a before photo so you will just have to believe me.

I was thinking about making it purple and pink, but when it came down to it, the teal was just too appealing, and it will be good to have some variety in my wardrobe. 

I used Landscape dyes, which are a professional, acid-based dye (they work very well) and kettle dyed it. This means that I put some water in a pot, put the yarn in, then poured the pre-mixed dye over. Some dye I poured straight into the pot, but most of it I poured onto the yarn itself. I used "Pacific" (teal) and "Mist" (grey). I love the result!

I think I have just enough to make this. (And here is the link for those of you not on Ravelry.)

Making You Wish For Winter

Some people take beautiful photographs - beautiful enough for me to wish it was winter when I am enjoying a lovely summer. 

Here is my (rather unmajestic or awe-inspiring) attempt to convince you that you are actually longing for cool days and rain instead of sunshine and icecream!

These photos were all taken about a step outside my front door. I love where I live and I love winter!

Sunshine Award

I want to say a big Thank you! to Strings of Purls for this award. 

May I add that it is very appreciated? We are well and truly into winter down here at the bottom of Australia and all possible sunshine is valued extremely highly!

It also provides me with the perfect opportunity to share some photos of sunbeams, caused by a very stinky bonfire that kept smoldering for days, making our house smell. 

There is nothing like waking up to the stench of smoke throughout your house.

I would like to pass this award on to a person whose blog I especially enjoy:  

Manda at There is a Time...

Manda's blog is inspiring, challenging, beautifully written and I really recommend it!

Crochet in the Fashion World

Did you see? Tell me, didya, didya?

The Elle Magazine Trend Report: Crochet! Woohoo!

I love these bags:

Only between $978 and $1143 each. 

Cost of materials? Depending on what and where you get it, $30 maximum. Time? Four evenings infront of the tv would probably be sufficient, so about 16 hours? At $20/hour, I would need $320 for my time. So that is a bonus of at least $628. Unfortunately for me, I am not a world famous brandname.

If only I could charge as much as what they are... I'd definitely quit uni if I could make $265 for a pair of earrings that would take an evening to make. I've seen nicer ones on Ravelry.

On a more serious note, hopefully this will help to lift the profile of crochet. The craft truly is an artform - machines cannot replicate it. You know those doilies you by for a couple of dollars? They were made by hand by women who are paid a pittance.

Oh yeah, the cardigan? Fashion disastor, I don't care who wears it.

(Thank you to Hands in Delight for the heads up!)

I Dream of Rainbow Umbrellas

Sometimes I have strange dreams. (I'm sure most of you will be able to relate.) 

I thought I would share this one with you. I've decided to write it using a 'stream of consciousness' style, but with lots of '...'s to represent the fluid nature of dreaming, so I hope it makes sense! I will add information in brackets if I think something might be too confusing. Some of you who know me in real life will probaby recognise things in it that are just oh-so-me :)

I Dream of Rainbow Umbrellas (and Hover Cars)

The man is saying we can all have a kite - all different colours to choose from! I want the rainbow one. They are in that building? I have been here before, in another dream... you have to climb to the top of a tall bookshelf and jump over that huge gap to get to the second floor... the gap is too wide... if it is too hard for me, how will mum ever get across? Oh, I forgot! There are stairs! They are a bit difficult - why did they use boxes?

Image found here.

Upstairs at last... I did NOT know that my husband rents a room up here! Why did he arrange the furniture like that... the bed is totally not good there... I wonder what is in the room next door? Wow - it's huge! Is it a student common-room? It might be a conference room. Peaches! This one looks tasty... oh dear, it is a bit past its use by date.

 Image found here.

Is it appropriate for me to rearrange his room? Oh, I forgot! We are married! I am not going to ruin my reputation after all... Actually this room would be great for studying - like a home in the library... awesome... I can only study at home... I have to tell my husband not to stop renting this room. 

Rainbow kite! I need one... here is where they are... were... they are all gone! I need one... some people have two. I will get wet when it rains without a rainbow umbrella (the kite has morphed into an umbrella). I guess I should start walking home. WHAT!!!! My husband just drove straight past me! I have a feeling something is wrong...

Image found here.

Where are my trousers?! At least my black t-shirt is a long one... it looks like one of those super short and tight black dresses... I need a hover car. Oh no, there is the woman who failed me on my teaching practical experience last year... why is she here? She has a hover car. I will just duck in here and hide until she is gone... oooh! A shooting game! OOOH! A buffet! Forget the shooting game, I would rather eat some of this food. I think something might have been poisened... oh well... it looks good. My husband and brothers are playing the shooting game. They like computer games. I always get squashed by the other players...

------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, that was my dream! The shooting/buffet section was actually a lot more extensive than what I portrayed here but it is sort of fuzzy which makes it difficult to write about. 

The crazy thing? During the day following this eventful dream, I saw two rainbow umbrellas... I really think I need one.

Nine Things

Gentleness... when I want to kick the cat.

Patience... when I have already repeated myself half-a-dozen times.

Goodness... I want this to influence my actions.

Faithfulness... even when I feel like I have been abandoned.

Self-control... chocolate is not always the answer (nor is that skein of yarn).

Kindness... not just in my actions, but also in my heart.

Peace... even when it is one of "those days".

Joy... like a rainbow on the inside... are tears the transformed waterdrops?

Love... which never fails, always hopes, always trusts.

Never Never Never Give Up

In April 2009 I went on my first practical experience in a school, as part of the teaching degree I was doing. I thought it went beautifully: I had good feedback throughout and the lessons I had done went well. 

Nearly two weeks after finishing and being thrilled, I was told that actually I had failed - completely and irrevocably.

I cried. For about 3 months.

I have almost always wanted to be a teacher, even playing 'schools' with my siblings. It seemed as though my dreams had been shattered... my confidence was completely broken and I had lost direction... how could I fail my teaching prac? Everyone had always said I would be a great teacher.

The university did not do anything to revoke the unfair assessment (yes, it was unfair). I found out that my degree would take an extra year, all because I failed a 2 week prac.

I tried to continue in my course, but could not function for trying not to burst into tears. I decided to defer for a semester, and thought seriously about quitting entirely.

I could not shake the feeling that I needed to go back, even though I did not want to because I had been so adversely affected by what had happened. It took almost 8 months before I finally handed in my application for acceptance into the new Master of Teaching course. After submitting the application I cried because it was so emotionally difficult for me to do.

I remember thinking, "God, if you want me to do teaching, you need to give me the desire to do this or I will fail again." 

God heard my prayer. One day, towards the end of January, I realised I was starting to get excited about returning to university and studying teaching again.

Today, I completed my first practical experience for the course. I passed with great marks. 

I am so happy, so pleased with myself and so thankful!

When I failed the prac last year, I could not cope with the thought of returning to try again, but I did, and I succeeded. It was hard won, and others would have given up, just as I nearly did.

There might be other negative experiences while I do this course, but I believe I am meant to be a teacher, and by God's grace I will persevere and I will complete what I have set out to do. 

God does not give us dreams or desires for no reason.

Never, never, EVER give up!

Sheep Art (Shart?)