Monday 23 October 2017

About the beginning

Sunday the 22nd October

Heading off to Sydney on the Melbourne to Sydney train from Southern Cross Station at 8.30 in the morning. Stuart dropped us off after a late night working!

Melbourne to Sydney map

Waiting to board the train



Watched the world go by and did some knitting.


The journey took 12 hours and we arrived at Central Station. A taxi took us to our accommodation in Bondi, just a short stroll to Bondi Beach. Dinner at a Tapas bar.



Sunday
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Wednesday
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Looking for Whales



About the day:

Beautiful day to walk the coastline to the Heads from Bondi along the Federation Walk. Hard to find and follow but a great walk along the spectacular coast. We were assured, by a very friendly dog walker that it was a highway out there! We thought we saw some but didn't quite manage.

Federation Cliff Walk map

Started at Bondi with a walk along the beach after a lovely breakfast at a cafe just around the chorner. One of the best Bircher mueslis I've had.


The views along the way were spectacular!






And we walked all the way to Watsons Bay. From there a ferry to Circular quay and a train to St James station where we thought we might go and see the Archibald at the Gallery of NSW......finished yesterday! But still a great gallery to visit.

Trying to sort out the bus system, but finally managed to get the 333 back to Bondi Beach. Dinner was Japanese, again, just around the corner. Fixing up the diary and knitting.

Sunday 1 October 2017

Finishing projects

Achieved: 

Cleared the table and bench in the studio and have now got the small loom on the table ready to finish the weaving of plastic and an area to continue working on the stitching.

Problems to solve: 

How to get everything finished!

Plan for tomorrow: 

Need to cut up plastic to weave.

Another stitch!

Order yarn for  gloves for the next generation.

Heide Art Gallery and the AFL Grand Final

30th September (Saturday)

 About the day:

With the AFL Grand Final on, visiting Heide seemed like a good idea. There is an interesting exhibition on at the moment. I took my small sketch book and by the third sketch has not only become a bit more relaxed and observant, but discovered that I really like some of the artists on show. More to follow up.

PS Richmond won! Catherine M will be happy!

Achieved:

Started the edging of the blanket. Have gone down to a 3mm needle as the edge seems a bit too big, will still probably have to block the blanket anyway.

Ideas: 

* Research Constructivism.

* Remember to construct a world, however unlikely it is.

An unsettled week

23rd September(Saturday) to 29th September (Friday)

About the day:

Saturday there was a talk by an overseas guest at the Handweavers and Spinners Guild. He was Mr Tanji, a master weaver from Japan. Through his fast learning interpreter, he explained the schools he ran in and near Tokyo, the work they did and some of his exhibition pieces. He brought samples for us to see and then did a number of demonstrations.

Hi wove with a wavy shed stick which gave a beautiful effect. Shifting it just a little bit got a beautiful wavy movement.

He also wove with Washi (paper) and showed us how to process it and I got to spin some. It was quite strong and very interesting. I managed to obtain a sheet of this paper and will be great in my printing piece. He also had a wavy fan reed, but we didn't get a chance to see him weave with that. It was a very worthwhile day, with lots of inspiration.

The rest of the week was just working through several projects, including more stitching, finally finishing the main square of the blanket, and deciding that I need to try a different red for the finishing of my jumper.

Our own private Harrietville

18th September to 22nd September 2017

About the day:

It's all about the week away. Catherine M and I retreated to the beach house at Cape Woolamai. We spent the week knitting, looking at patterns, food, drink and walks on the beach.

We had a road trip to Hastings to visit the 'Little Woollie Makes Yarn store'. This was well worth a visit as there was lots of interesting yarns and books. Just open for 6 weeks, it's a lovely light store. There's a blog to follow: https://littlewoollie.blogspot.com.au/ .  Not surprisingly, I came away with a pattern book and some interesting Japanese yarn.

I had also purchased a lovely book, also Japanese in origin.

Achieved:

Did quite alot on both my New Zealand blanket and the red jumper, where I managed to finish all the handspun yarn and need something to finish it with.


Sunday 10 September 2017

Missing a few days!

About the day:

Ok, a few days. With a busy Guild committee meeting and Librarian work after the DCA meeting day, I just seemed to lose momentum and focus. Things were achieved but important work on art left out.

Spring is in the air. First day we were able to sit on the front terrace in the sun with a cup of tea and working on my crochet blanket on my knee! The blanket did help, but the sun was warm. The rainbow lorikeets love the flowers on the eucalytus.

Achieved: 

I did finish sewing a pair of pants, to wear out on Saturday to dinner with Jenny & Lee at the Chinese restaurant in Doncaster, the Golden Dragon.

I seem to have turned a corner of my New Zealand blanket. I finished a couple of rows in a day. It should zoom by now.

I did manage to get back to 10 days in the life of Water.

Did the last upside-down drawing, a little better, and read the next chapter which is contour drawing, essentially, drawing without looking!

Problems to solve: 

Get fit and lose some weight.

Must remember to warm up the studio on cold days, it makes it easier to get to work.

Plan for tomorrow: 

Try and find out how far you have to walk to do 10000 steps. I have time tomorrow and it's going to be fine. Have to work out a way to count steps!

I would like to start sewing the next item for my trip wardrobe: a pair of calf length pants or a dress.

Do the first contour drawing of my hand.