beltane samhain

Another Sunlight Shawl for Sad People, knitted with Misti Alpaca Pima Cotton & Silk Hand Paint yarn. Nice and light, a joy to knit and the variegated colours keep it interesting for repetitive knit/purl patterns that seem to go on in to infinity. I've titled it 'Neptune Unicorn Shawl' and gifted it to my unicorn loving friend Carmen.

The Southern Hemisphere Beltane is in the peak of Spring and honours fertility and the difference in masculinity and femininity. We intended on making a Maypole for Spring celebrations using a big tree branch however the fierce winds kept us huddled inside. I envisioned them singing, dancing and laughing under the maypole. I had a light bulb moment and whipped up a miniature Maypole for our seasonal table. The children were enamoured with the end result.

Apparently the veils between the two worlds are thin so we made strawberry muffins for the Fairies.

When we are in the peak of Spring, our Northern Hemisphere friends celebrate Samhain. Oddly, this is when our supermarkets fill with cheap plastic Halloween paraphernalia that has no relevance to our Spring season in Australia. Everywhere you see signs of life on our farms and backyards at this time of year yet we celebrate Halloween instead of the Easter bunny. We try to live by the seasons truthfully however my eldest showed interest in carving pumpkins at the supermarket (high food miles, eek!). Regardless of the season and price, I thought it was time to finally carve a jack-o-latern. Youtube here we come! Ridiculously you can't get carving pumpkins here in our pumpkin growing season. Crazy, I know. We'll have to grow our own as we'd love to keep up this tradition in our Autumn. After I explained this topsy-turvy celebration to my eldest he suggested we should carve watermelons next year. Love it! We do like to celebrate all the seasons and join in with our northern hemisphere neighbours.

The children were drawn to the lit Jack O'lantern and were so still and quiet. The opposite of our usual bed time routine. I think a candle and song may accompany our night time rhythm from now on.

A book week outfit sewed for the little one based on the book Chengdu, for a parade at the local homeschooling gathering. I made the pj's by simply tracing an existing pair and the free mask pattern is from here.

A felted fox pattern for my eldest who had an RSPCA charity day for animals at his school. Although at school pick up you might of mistaken the day for national 'Onesies Dress Up Day'. When the final bell rang hundreds of kids spilled out of the buildings dressed in onesies just like a rave party!

He chose the pattern and bright orange fabric. I tried to veer him towards an endangered species since people here don't care much for foxes due to our vulnerable native animals. But he was determined and don't all our animals deserve protection? And no wonder, I've nurtured his love of animals since he was three in hopes he'll grow up to be a regional vet.

Joining in with Keep Calm Craft On. and Yarn Along.

I've been battling another health issue, this time with my neck and arms. The results came back that I am not neuro compromised and what a relief however this never ending year of quite dramatic health issues is dragging on. This is always an uplifting space to see the positive accomplishments of myself and others. Although I have not been keeping up here I have been checking in on you all.

Zena xx

what's with wheat

Knitting
The little one found the bear pattern in his brothers' craft book and insisted I make it for him. So off we went to the craft shop to buy the yarn (nothing in my stash) and over a few days he watched in absolute awe and "helped" craft its construction. What a beautiful life lesson to teach our young children the beauty of slow hand making in this very fast paced consumer world.

Incidentally the pattern is incorrect. The bear knitted up quite large and out of proportion. On my third attempt I halved the number of knitted rows and the bear came out just right:)

More knitting and some reading

Grandma's Favorite Heart Shaped Dishcloth for a dear friend.

A quilt for Christmas By Sandra Dallas was a quick read with wonderful characters. Centered around Eliza and her life tending to the farm with her two children whilst her husband is away fighting in battle during the civil war era. She took in a widow and a baby who fled violent relatives and later helped save the life of a slave by keeping her hidden on her property. It depicts the strength and compassion of women during incredibly difficult times.

Watching


This documentary gets a 10 out of 10 from me. Just some of my favourite speakers on real food and transparency in the food industry are in this film: Sally Fallon, Joel Salatin, Cydni O'Meara and Vandana Shiva.

The film covers the history of wheat, the hybridisation of wheat, pesticides and chemicals in wheat and advertising of wheat products over real food throughout the decades. It depicts how wheat in its new form and mass consumption of it has had detrimental effects at epidemic proportions in the western world. Am I against wheat? No not all. If we all ate slow fermented biodynamic sourdough bread for breakfast and buns for lunch we wouldn't have chronic gut and bowl issues that plagues many of us today. The bread at the supermarket is cheap and nasty and full of chemicals. I can't believe I use to buy it for my children. This film is a public health service.

Listening

 

Source

Getting to know Alisa Vitti, the founder behind the blog, Flo Living on this podcast.

Alisa believes that women live in a time where our work schedule, exercise recommendations and nutritional advice are all centered around male hormone patterns. By optimizing our female hormones Alisa has proven through her Flo Living Protocol that we can improve or fix PMS, cramps, unexplained infertility, low libido, PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, and eczema.

You can find practical and helpful information on women's hormones through her blog at Flo Living. A dear friend is currently enrolled in the protocol and gives it the big thumbs up.

Y'all know I'm all about the hormones these days!

How are my crafty comrades? How are your hormones? We are a special breed us women and we need to look after our precious hormones...and keep crafting!

Joining in with Keep Calm Craft On and Yarn Along.

on hold

Life is still 'on hold' at the moment, while I take each day as it comes in the early stages of recovering from health issues stemming from a few months ago. Here are a few things I've been dabbling in...

Studying

I've enrolled in the Endo Wellness Technique. The program "helps strong and determined women manage their Endometriosis successfully by using a holistic approach without hormone treatments or surgery."

I'm only in week 3 and it's already a game changer for me. I am learning so much about what Endometriosis really is. I can see that the last 20 years of painful period and allergy sensitivities are all connected to my new diagnosis. Although I have lots of related respiratory problems at the moment (and this only adds to my anxiety) I am hopeful that in a few months time I will feel much stronger mentally and physically. In a year's time even empowered (!) and I'd like to be a source of help to others. I just have to keep the faith right now.

Check out Melissa Turner's Endo Empowered Program here. If you want to know more about the program subscribe to her emails. There's lots of free information on her blog too. I do urge anyone who suffers with Endometriosis and hormonal issues to check this program out. I believe it can be life changing.

Needlework

Another Dropcloth Sampler from Rebecca Ringquist. We had a little chat on her etsy messages and I was telling her how much I love Portland (where she lives) and the show Portlandia. She replied that just the other day she saw Fred Armisen whilst shopping. I was really chuffed!

Rebecca has an etsy shop where you can find all her fabulous samplers which incidentally has taken off since she first sold them at a Squam Retreat. You can listen to her thoughtful and creative journey on this podcast.

 Journaling

Prompted by Sophie's Journal Your Heart Out hashtag on Instagram, I took the plunge in to journaling. The words did not come easily at first; however I enjoyed the simple act of cutting and glueing and writing my aspirations, gratitudes and reflections. Now the words come much more easily and I thoroughly enjoy this quiet and soulful time. Sophie guides you with journal writing prompts and collage inspiration on her blog.

Making

A cardigan first cast on in (ahem) 2014. Knitted 95% percent of it and then stored in a basket for a very long time. The button band just needs to be finished however I seem to have made my own adjustments and have no idea what my little scribbles in lead pencil mean on the pattern.

Knitted in Harvest wool from Bendigo Woollen Mills. Unfortunately this yarn was a limited edition and no longer available. It's a shame because this 10 ply blend of wool, alpaca and bamboo is perfect for our snowy winters. Also the tweed is so striking.

Watching

Source

I can't regularly find the fiction books I want at our small regional library so I usually have a long wait from inter-library loans. In the mean time, The Edwardian Farm on youtube has been some cheerful watching during my down time.

Joining in with all the crafty folks at Keep Calm Craft On and Yarn Along.

What have you been making, watching, reading?

Zena xx

fair isle hat

My first Fair Isle project. How very disappointing you were when I cast off the last stitch. A large stretchy rim and ugly brown yarn for the crown. I ended up replacing it with a more uplifting colour but still ambivalent about whether we could get through a cold winter season together.  In haste I gave you a quick rough soaking and rolled you in a towel and squeezed the heck out of you until you doubled in sized. Dried, you hung over my sad disappointed eyes. In pure desperation I threw you in the dryer and hoped for the best. Not once but twice but three times and you came out gloriously perfect! Do you have these roller coaster rides with your knitted garments?

Noticing we were low in washcloths, I raided my stash instead of heading to the shops for something store bought. I like washcloth patterns for the big peeps in the house and dishcloths for our little peeps - the smaller size pattern is perfect for little hands.

WARM - a community textile art project is calling out for volunteers to contribute to "an Australian-based large-scale collaborative knitting project that explores why the earth is warming and what we can do to make a positive change."

The designer is tiKKi knits. There's a windmill pattern, flowers, landscape squares, gum leaves, earthy accessories amongst others. Go check out the patterns on Ravelry.

Knitted contributions need to be in by Friday 12th of August, 2016. Pieces will be exhibited at the Art Gallery of Ballarat in September 2016. More information can be found at SEAM, Inc. 

Reading lots on my newly discovered health issue. Also, the Lunch Lady Mag arrived today - totally addicted.

Joining in with all the crafty folks at Keep Calm Craft On and Yarn Along.

What have you been making crafty peeps?

Zena xx

a craft swap and hormonal health

So happy my craft swap partner in Israel, received her package in time for Easter.  I sewed a scrappy pouch from an organic Japanese fabric bundle, HAIKU by Monaluna. The pouch pattern is from Sew Delicious. A bar of natural Australian Lemon Myrtle Soap, a local beeswax candle and good quality Snowy Mountain Cookies.

Thank you Mamashara at One Grey Elephant blog for hosting the Project Bag Swap.

From my swap partner Jodie at Jelly Wares blog. I absolutely adore my Autumn themed project bag. Inside an exquisite crochet washer almost too good to use; delicious cinnamon black tea; gorgeous Noro yarn I've always wanted to try; and a fingerless mitts pattern. A big squeal on the handcrafted buttons Jodie made from wood sourced on her property. Feeling so spoiled! I found this package on my doorstep on our 4 hour return drive from Calvary hospital in Canberra. It was a lovely surprise to come home to such thoughtfulness after a health scare.

Venturing in to Fair Isle and stranded work. Ripped this back several times due to the pattern being out of sync until I finally realised that all a long it was me that was out of sync!

Aside from lovely crafting, I have been on one heck of a roller coaster ride these last few weeks. Rushed to hospital by ambulance and then surgery 10 days later for removal of a cyst on one ovary and a "clean up." The diagnosis is endometriosis. I am so thankful it is not something worse. This concludes months of exhaustion, depression and an unexplained muffin top that grew from not over eating.

So begins a lot of research in to the world of women's hormones and excess estrogens and xenoestrogens. The surgery, although a laparoscopy has really taken it's toll on me mentally and physically and I never want to go through it again. Being this sick is a burden to my partner and family members that have to travel up to a day to help look after the children.

Even though I lead a pretty good wholefood and natural lifestyle I was extremely tired and depressed and plagued with health issues for over a year. Now I know that the imbalance of hormones has caused this. I keep thinking I'm still 29 years old when in fact I'm a 40 year old mum with young kids which means 40 year old health issues.

Among all the craft and foodie posts on my blog it looks like women's health care will be popping up quite a bit but in some ways it's all related.

 Now back to dodging paper airplanes in bed.

What have you been making dear crafty friends? Are you dealing with a women's health issue? I would love to hear your story. If you would prefer to share privately, please email me using the link next to my profile picture.

Joining in with all the crafty folks at Keep Calm Craft On and Yarn Along
Zena xx

embroidery, a shawl and cushions

The Original Dropcloth Sampler, by Rebecca Ringquist.

I have embroidered since I was a teen but never such a vibrant sampler and learned a few new fancy stitches along the way. Instead of stitching fabric around the edge, I stretched the sampler over a piece of foam core and framed it. I smile every time I walk past it.

New year, new cushion covers - Buzoku Cotton Canvas and Buzoku Cotton Duck from Spotlight. I had a little mental breakdown in there. I only get a chance to go once year and it's always at a new location so I don't know where anything is. Usually the family are waiting in the car and I have a very short time limit to frantically get what I need. I get so overwhelmed and distracted by the huge selection of craft from every category that my eyes scan each item desperately trying to take it all in and I get a little dizzy. Must make more trips to the big city Spotlight store to feel "less dizzy". Yes, that's just what the doctor ordered for one overwhelmed crafty mama from the bush.

 I started another lace shawl but found it too hard to concentrate on while everyone was home on holidays. So I frogged it and cast on the Sunlight Shawl for Sad People (and I do get sad!). There's lots of mistakes I didn't go back to fix as I wasn’t use to working with slippery lace needles and such thin yarn. In saying that, Malabrigo yarn has a wonderful feel and mesmerising colour way. I’m not bothered by the mistakes because they remind me of special moments in time, mostly difficult times.  However aren't those times important for personal growth, realisation and reflection?

From my iphone. Threw on a hat to disguise bedridden hair from a head cold and sore throat.

Over the Summer holidays I (over) indulged in Netflix viewing. (One of the perks from moving out of Kosciuszko National Park) Currently knitting and cross stitching through Downton Abbey episodes. WW1 has just been declared over. Hurrah! Oh I do hope Lady Sybil and the chauffeur can fight against class barriers to be together...Aren't these British drama's  - Call the Midwife, Land Girls and The Paradise - just the bees knees?

Have you discovered the Women's Hour podcasts? If not, please click through. Intelligent interviews and discussions on current issues from a female perspective. 

What have you been crafting, reading, listening and watching?

Joining in with all the crafty folks on Keep Calm Craft On

the imposter shawl

The Imposter Shawl taken with my phone camera.

The boys playing with my new toys - a swift and ball winder.

Ready to get my knit on!

Archie "gently" immersing the shawl in tepid water with a drop of wool wash.

Using a salad spinner to remove excess water.

Blocking mats coveted over at Small Things and bought from Knitpicks.

I couldn't resist a quick Instagram post before blocking.

Named the Imposter Shawl because the stitch patterns mimic crochet and weaving but is all sneakily knitted including the “faux-crochet” scalloped edge. Overall the shawl was quick and easy to knit with a few new to me techniques. You can buy the pattern on Ravelry or check out the online class at Creativebug. Amber and Jaime are a lot of fun.

I used the recommended 2 skeins of Heirloom Romney and you knit all of it so there's no left over yarn. This coarser yarn is not as soft as merino or alpaca but will make for a long lasting garment and from a 'slow fashion' perspective this is a step in the right direction. After soaking the shawl in wool wash and blocking, it was much softer and quite dreamy in fact. I can't wait to wear The Imposter Shawl for many wintry seasons. My new swift was hand made by Mary's husband in the Cooma-Monaro area. Thank you Mr Mary.

I'm reading the Spring chapter in the Way of the Happy Woman.

Sara says Spring is an opportunity to bring to life whatever lies within. Awaken your creativity and let it be know. Encouraging right?

Break out of Winter Stagnation by getting up early and get moving - at the gym, on the mat, running or walking. The key is to be persistent!

Declutter to make space for new opportunities. The more clutter you have (including files on your computer) the more energy gets dissipated. Ask yourself is the item genuinely useful? Did I use it last year? Does it reflect who I want to be this year. I did a massive declutter when we moved to a smaller house but it's a constant thing with a growing family, crafting hobbies, bikes, skies, snowboards, gardening, tools...so many things!

Time to start eating lighter foods after winter stews and oatmeal. Sara offers a Spring green smoothie recipe, Cinnamon Amaranth Flax Porridge, Quiona and Asparagus Tabouli Salad. Yum and seasonal!

There's also yoga and meditation sequences especially for Spring detoxification - yin yoga for PMS, hot flushes and mood swings. Vigorous yoga flow to stimulate digestions and lymph, break up winter stagnation and loose weight. Sounds good to me!

What have you been making lately? Have you been Spring Cleaning?

Joining in with other crafty folks at Keep Calm Craft On 
and Yarn Along.

baby hat and booties

Our 'free range' friends moved from the Snowy Mountains to the seaside and gave birth to a beautiful little girl. I sent a small package in the mail - a beeswax candle and knitted baby hat and booties in Rowan softknit cotton; silver and sunset for a colour dipped look.

I borrowed Buddhism for Mothers by Sarah Napthali from the library. I've wanted to read this book forever.

"Mothers of small children are on their own. We often become painfully short of people we can turn to. In our premother lives working or studying, we probably had a community of people around us, including allies ever ready to discuss grievances or joke about difficulties.We may be feeling unheard, or worse judged."

These words would of been great comfort for me eight years ago when I had my first child! I like how this book is centered on the mother and illustrates an accessible form of Buddhism for every day life.  I've order a copy for home so I can take my time and read, pause and reflect mindfully, especially on the following chapters: Worrying about our children, Creating loving relationships and Finding happiness and loosing self-image. All very relevant for mums who often put themselves last!

So tell me, what have you been making and reading? Have you read this book?

Joining in with Keep Calm Craft On and Yarn Along.

the craft sessions

Natural dyeing workshop, using native Australian plants.

Botanical dye pot using Eucalyptus Obliqua Messmate also known as Stringy Bark. Belinda Evans checking our progress.

Carmen gently drying fabric and yarn samples. Jars of mordants to help fix colours to textiles.

Display of our botanically dyed samples using Stringy Bark. An example of how to record your yarn dyeing results and underneath a basket of Belinda's botanically dyed yarns.

Samples from other students in the workshop of botanically dyed textiles extracted from Argyle Apple and Wattle.

Beattie Lanser demonstrating how to sew "The Beattie" dress. The pattern cutting workshop.

Sewing pleats on the Beattie Dress. The Beattie dress in linen and cotton chambray.


I knew I was at the right event when I heard the heartfelt and teary introductions the first night at The Craft Sessions weekend retreat of creative workshops, inspiring people and all things handmade.

I first discovered The Craft Sessions last year, over at Tiny Happy and incorrectly thought it was held in New Zealand. I was so over the moon when I realised earlier this year that it was held here in Australia, my friend was eager to go with me, and we were able to get tickets 'by the skin of our teeth' as registration sold out in 40 minutes!

The event was held in Melbourne's wine growing region at Yarra Valley Estate, an award winning venue for their commitment in environmental and social sustainability. We were served delicious meals three times a day which meant no cleaning up or eating cold foods for all the mothers! Fresh organic fruit and raw sweets from Harvest Cafe for morning and afternoon tea just an arm stretch away. In the evenings, cosy lounges, wine in hand and coffee tables covered in crafting books to peruse at your pleasure after a glorious day of crafting. It really was bliss and the perfect 40th birthday present from the hubby.

The first two days, Belinda Evans taught us how to naturally dye plant and animal fibers with Australian natives. In my early 20's I tie-dyed vintage lingerie slips worn as outerwear for a Retro Clothing store in Darlinghurst, Sydney. When it was 'Hippie Day' at my son's school last year, it ignited my interest in dyeing and more importantly to explore natural dyeing techniques that fit in with our families journey in natural and conscious living.

I have a bit of a crafty crush on Belinda not just on her natural dyeing and weaving pursuits but on her personal health journey too. Apparently she has a huge following, you'll understand why when you check out her blog,  Elements of Alchemy and her instagram account, I am Alchemy.

Belinda showed us how to prepare textiles for dyeing by gently washing the fibers. This is known as 'scouring' however that implies aggressive washing which you should definitely not do especially with wool. Adding mordants to the dye process to help fix colours to the textiles and how to record your botanical dye results. Animal fibers such as silk and wool are much easier to dye with than plant fibers such as linen and cotton. Natural dyeing is a waiting game and is full of surprises and fits in wonderfully with the slow crafting movement. 

Sunday I spent the entire day in the Beattie Dress workshop, an original design of Beattie Lanser. Beattie is a skilled textile designer with a bubbly almost theatrical demeanor. I was a bit stressed out with airline issues in safely transporting my brand new expensive sewing machine (another birthday present!) but at the last minute, the organiser Felicia was able to arrange for me to use Beattie's demonstration machine. So relieved! In the workshop we learned how to cut out a pattern, sew darts, raglan sleeves, invisible zipper, elastic sleeve casings, neckline binding and pleats. I sat next to Claire from Harvest Cafe and we had a good chuckle about my chambray fabric resembling the dresses Amish women wear. I was delighted as I watch Amish documentaries and movies and I find their needle work and pie making inspiring.

Beattie circled the room helping people with the sew-along and at one point when she passed my table she cracked up laughing at the dozen of pins I used on just one side of the skirt. She removed them and placed two pins at the top and using her arms gracefully said "and let it flow." I love her to bits. She is so sweet and fun and super talented.

I had such a good time in that class. Some of us did not finish hemming our dresses, which is no biggie and easy to do at home, we were tired but elated. Sewing your own clothes really makes you appreciate the hard work that goes in to garment making. For me personally, sewing my own clothes is one small way of dealing with the awful fast fashion industry and the terrible treatment of the garment workers.

I feel truly blessed to have been part of The Crafts Sessions 2015. I'm still processing it all. So much more happened in that jammed packed weekend including free demonstrations - spinning, blocking with knits, spoon carving! It definitely deserves another post. Carmen and I snapped pics using only our phones but the lovely Xan took some great photos with her DSLR camera and be sure to scroll down to see the swoon worthy examples from the Textile Collage workshop.

The Craft Sessions creator, Felicia Semple created this wonderful 'unstyled' event to bring women together to learn, create and make. Her thoughtful words on mothering and crafting such as 'how intention is more important than mistakes and imperfections', can be found on The Craft Sessions blog. This is also where you can be on the look out for The Craft Sessions 2016 event. Maybe I will see you there!

Joining in with Keep Calm Craft On at Frontier Dreams and Yarn Along at Small Things.

beanies

Red slouchie

Better colour shot here.

Chestnut slouchie

Two knitted hats for me and one knitted hat for a friend.

That's sounds like good knitting karma to me!

We've all been out with the winter plague for the whole of August! The big one was off school for two weeks. Croup, fevers and constant coughing; one after the other, week after week till lucky last me. 

A broken oven and a grill that turns off and on every five seconds I am really over winter and can't wait for Spring or Sprinter. Have you heard about this? I always assumed early seasonal changes were a sign of global warming.

I'm so relieved I had homemade chicken stock frozen in portions to add to slow cooked meals. I can't emphasize enough the health benefits of homemade stocks for gut issues, eczema, arthritis or as preventative health... If you don't already make your own stock and would like to, I've pinned a 'simple how to' by Natural New Age Mum on my Pinterest board. Once you start making your own you can't go back to store bought. I've also pinned Nourished Kitchen's explanation on Bones, Broths and Stocks. Very subtle but yes I want to be Pinterest friends and I want you to eat yummy homemade nourishing stock.

Out of the kitchen, I'm on a quest to find the perfect beanie. After learning how to knit in the round with Caddy Melville Ledbetter on Craftsy the possibilities are endless. No more knitting flat hats and sewing up the side seams for this little knitter right here. I'm an insanely tight knitter so I cast on the large with 4 extra stitches. I love the big slouchie outcome which incidentally hides my inner highly strung, tight knitting tendencies. Details ravelled here.

 How are your crafty projects and seasonal transitions tying in together?

Joining in with crafty peeps at Frontier Dreams for Keep Calm Craft On and Yarn Along at Small Things.

first snowfall and a knitted hat

 

Knitted hat with ear flaps

Morning snowfall in our front yard

Morning snowfall in our backyard

We woke to a winter wonderland on Monday morning, marking the first day of winter.

I also cast off a knitted hat. My first attempt at knitting in the rounding using 5 double pointed needles and circular needles. Demystified.

I took Caddy Melville Ledbetter's class using her own personal pattern. I made the large hat but it turned out quite small even though I thought my swatch was right. Although...a flashback has reminded me that a little toddler was diving across my lap trying to grab the measuring tape at the time and I even remember thinking 'that'll do' and handed him the tape:) Lesson Learned. Details Ravelled here.

I'm sure my small Ruby knitted hat will find the love at The Thredbo Beanie Festival.

How was your first day of Winter or Summer? Depends where you are in the world! What have you been making?

Joining in with all the crafty folks at Frontier Dreams and Yarn Along at Small Things.