Intense

This week I had the first week of my DipEd (teaching degree), and it was intense. I only have two days each week, but they are 11 hour days, which means I leave home just after 7 in the morning, and get home a little after 8 at night. At the moment it's all a bit overwhelming, as I'm mid-year entry which means I don't have all the background from first semester that the other students have, but at least there are about 20 of us who all feel the same.

Even more overwhelming, we do our first school placement in 3 weeks! It's definitely going to be a bit like being tossed in the deep end, but I think once I get in to it I'm going to really enjoy it.

Not too much crafty progress this week. I made one of my bunnies for my friend's baby, Jasper, who turned one this week. His mum loved it, so hopefully he will too.

I've also been working on a scarf I started about three years ago; I'd finished all the knitting, but the last step is to drop specific stitches so that it opens out into a wrap, and it's taking forever to unravel them all!

Last up, I'm cutting out all the bits for A La Mode. I'm mostly sticking to the prints/placement shown on the pattern, but with a few minor changes as I really love the paisleys.

Bunny Brigade

I've been pursuing crafty activities of a non-quilting nature for the last week or so. Mostly this has to do with my plan to have a stall at a market; I'm tossing up between two different markets that would allow me to sell both hand-made goods and new fabrics.


My first softie is a bunny; after a few attempts I finally got a shape I was happy with, and these guys/gals are pretty cute. All they need now is a bow around the neck.


I've also whipped up a pile of jingle cubes; my friend's babies love them so I know they are a winner, and they are very quick and easy to make.



I've also finished that scarf I was working on; admittedly I actually finished it a week or so ago, but had dawdled on tying in the loose ends...

Winter Chill

Melbourne is having it's coldest day today for two years; we haven't even cracked 10 degrees. That plus all the rain makes it perfect crafting weather. After four weeks quilting Summer at Aster Manor, I needed a little time away from the machine, so I've spent the last few days getting aquainted with some wool I bought last year.

It's a Lincraft wool, a mix of wool and soybean, and really nice to work with. The only downside is trying to match the colour everytime I join a new ball of wool...there are a few "offcuts" floating around my loungeroom. The colours are much nicer in person than they appear in the photo.

I've also finally started on Port-de-France; just a stipple this time, I couldn't face another template pattern for quite a while, and this will get this quilt done quite quickly.

Pinwheels and Scrap Bags

I've had a little idea buzzing around in my head for the last few weeks, and finally got time this week to put together a few pinwheel blocks. It will only be a small quilt, and I'm sure you all know what that means!

I apparently missed the parcel delivery man this morning, and had to go up to the local post office, but I came home with fabric. I'd been eyeing off the Patisserie range, and decided on the Jelly Girl quilt, and Hancocks of Paducah just happened to have a kit for a very appealing price. A couple of weeks of waiting impatiently, and it finally arrived! Not sure when I'll actually get around to it, but it's here and waiting for whenever I'm ready.

With the kit I also bought one of the new Moda Scrap Bags; these are bags containing co-ordinating off-cuts from when they make the layer cakes etc. It's a bit pot-luck as to what you get, and I got an odd assortment. Mostly a funky, bright cherry patterned range (Oh Cherry, I think), with some of what looks like the new Glace range. No idea what to do with it...but I'm sure it will be useful for something.

My new scarf is coming along well...

And Bella's hiding spot for today? Inside the dishwasher of all places. She is a funny girl.

Easter

I hope everyone had a great easter, no matter how you celebrated. For me, easter is a chance for my mum and I to get out of the city, and head back up to Beechworth for a few days. The only downside was coming down with a cropper of a headcold on Thursday, so I've snuffled and sneezed my way through the entire holiday. I'm sure I'll be back to full health just in time to go back to work...

It was interesting to see Beechworth for the first time since the February fires. While one of the fires was called the "Beechworth Fire", it didn't get into the actual town, but got within a couple of kilometers. The road into Beechworth was shocking to see; all the black trunks, and complete lack of any undergrowth. It was nice to see that many of the gum trees have already sprouted new growth, but the fire was so hot that many trees won't recover. I didn't stop to take photos (doesn't feel right), but there are a couple of blurry shots taken from the car. The lack of green makes it feel like you are driving through an old sepia coloured film...

A friend visiting from Canada joined us for a couple of days, so we make a visit to a couple of wineries...

And I did a bit of crafty shopping; there is a shop in Beechworth called The Ardent Alpaca, which has the most beautiful wool. I picked up some pure baby alpaca wool in a lovely lilac/mauve colour, which is destined for a scarf (the only thing I can actually knit).

But first I've got to finish the one I'm working on. Also alpaca, but with a bit of silk, and its a lovely two-toned wool.

Last, but certainly not least...I had my first visit with baby Noah last week, and he is a sweety! Such a relaxed bub.

New Arrival

The first of the new babies arrived yesterday; my boss Belinda had a baby girl in the early hours of morning, named Sophie Grace. She was a rather large bub, 9 pounds 4oz, and a week late. Now I can label up the quilt ready for when I get to go and see them.

Bought myself some wool this morning; I'm a wanna-be knitter. I've been working on a knitted wrap for the last two years (it takes a back seat to quilting...), but it shouldn't take too much longer. It's made with alpaca wool which varies between a deep pinkish colour, and a light pink, and is so soft.

The wool I bought today is a "prism" wool; it's pink, purple, red, and brown. Unfortunately the colours don't show up well in the photo, but its nice in person. It's 30% soybean which I find interesting too.

Not much else to report; quilting of 4OT is coming along well. I've almost finished 5 of the 25 blocks. Pics will come soon.