This week's adventures and achievements

I went for a beautiful, if somewhat scarey bushwalk up the escarpment near Wollongong.

Actually going up was OK, it was coming back down that was bad for me - I was petrified I was going to slip again.

path along the escarpment

view to the north from Sublime Point

view to the south from Sublime Point

Anyway all was well and I was able to do another couple of small walks on Tuesday to some small waterfalls in the mid Blue Mountains towns of Hazelbrook and Woodford.

transit of venus track at Woodford

horseshoe falls at North Hazelbrook

And I made ten bright bracelets -


What did you do this week?

Crochet - the new yoga?

I heard someone the other day describe knitting as the new yoga, but crochet seems to be a resurgent craft, so I'm proposing that crochet is the next new yoga.

I'll admit from the start that I have never learnt to crochet.
My mother was a avid crocheter and made me a turquoise crocheted smock in the 70's when such things were fashionable.
But I think that crochet has come of age and is no longer the domain of the crocheted dolly toiletroll holder!


There are many on-line tutorials about crochet.
Here is one that I found tells you how to start.
I looked for a video tutorial because it seems to me that you need to be shown what to do with something like this, if you have absolutely no idea (as in my case)

Get Your Crochet Started

There are other useful tutorials on this site for basic crochet techniques.

I have also learnt that there are various style of crochet -

- granny squares
- freeform
- amigurumi

If you want to learn a bit more - granny squares for example, super-blogger Jess of epheriell pointed me in the direction of a tutorial by the very talented Renate of Rensfibreart.
You can find this free tutorial here.



Now you have mastered the granny square - what can you do with them?


It seems the possibilies are endless!


I love this granny square rug that I found on firefly cottage's blog.
Is like a beautiful rich mosaic.
Apparently it is from a granny square flickr group of which there are many.


The appeal of crochet is that -

1. You dont need a lot of equipment - just a crochet hook and yarn.
2. It is very portable - you can take it on a bus or car trip.
3. You can make a bit at a time and sew them all together later.
4. It is a stash-buster.

I might even have a go myself!

In the meantime - some more crochetty inspiration.

rensfibreart

ketzl

artnomadix

crochetroo

SylvChezPlum

Wednesday wishlist

This week I am wishing that it was a bit warmer so i could wear this dress -

turquoise dress by outofline

But it's still cold enough for slippers and I really need some new ones, my old ones are falling apart and I'm sure will trip me up some day!

felted slippers by aureliaLT

I'm just blown away by the design and technique of this crocheted necklace -

ranunculus fluitans by irregular expressions

How are your wishes going?
Have you got any to share?

Tuesday's treasuries

It's been a while since I posted all the lovely tresauries that I have been in, but the beautiful thing about the new treasury system is that the treasuries stay there for ever!

Or until the curator deletes them.

There is also an awesome search ability and using that I found several new ones that I didnt know I was in!
So that was a nice surprise!

So without any more ado, I'll introduce the latest ones.

Sweet and pretty 'Rainbow sherbet' from Gone the sun.
Thanks so much for including my Spring sunset necklace.


Gonethesun has a vintage shop on etsy but is in vacation mode at the moment, you might like to check it out whrn she is back on board.

BoosTees mitts are a bit popular in treasuries, like this atmospheric collection from otherlings.

Otherlings makes cute needle felted items like this adorable chipmunk.

felted chipmunk by otherlings

Two people chose BoosTees olive gloves - it must be the model (my son) that did it!

Many thanks mycandybags!
and I love your applique bags!
How cute is this?

bag by mycandybags

And three cheers for sarahelizabethgrace for this one!

Karen of newearthsoaps was lovely enough to pop my lilac and lemon mitts along with lots of wonderful Australian sellers.

Newearthsoaps makes my favorite soap -

lime and patchouli soap by newearthsoaps

I can definitely recommend it!

What a great idea from Jessicatorres!
All the deserty goodness!
I really appreciate that she picked my 'desert oasis bracelet'.

Jessicatorres is a very talented photographer.
Just take a look at her work!

love is strong by jessicatorres

I love these colours!
Sally of Jambochameleon has a great eye and picked my 'green valley earrings' with these gorgeous peacock colours.

Sally has sll sorts of incredible craft supplies and makes some of the best tags around.
Check out her shop when she is back from her holiday!

tags by jambochameleon

Now mine!
First I was inspired by the fingerless mitts from BlueKimonoStudio to make a totally strpey one.

Then a fruity one!


And because I love rhubarb!

Thanks to all the lovely curators!
See you next time.

Happy Birthday to the bra!

The bra is 100 years old this year!
I learned this listening to the radio program "By Design".



New York socialite Mary Phelp-Jacobs is credited with creating the first bra.
As the story goes she was unhappy with the traditional corset and her maid helped her model some coverage out of two silk handkies.



Since then the bra has evolved


and become a design challenge.


There are thousands of different bras out there so you think you could find a comfortable fit.
But how hard is it to find one that holds, supports, doesnt dig in or rub and will survive daily washing?


Maybe we should forget all about comfort and opt instead for a helping hand!


Style -


Taste -

Practical -

And dont forget the guys!


So lets hear it for the bra!

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear bra!"

This is where we are going instead

in October.

To Sikkim in north east India. It is a tiny bit of India squeezed up between Nepal and Bhutan.
We walk towards Kanchenjunga which is the third highest peak in the world!



Instead of a high desert this region had rhododendron forests and tea terraces.
But the views should be spectacular!

On a clear day we may be able to see Mount Everest!


Photos from thirdpole and varanasi travel guide.

Disappointed beyond words.

In two days time we were to fly out to India to spend 10 days trekking in a remote area of the Himalayas, in Ladakh.

It is a beautiful high desert and I have wanted to go there for 25 years!

The capital Lrh is at 3200 metres and the valleys we were to pass through are at betwwen 3000 and 4000 metres. Our highest pass was 5250 metres. Exciting stuff.




During the night of 6th August the area was hit by a freak storm and a mudslide.


Over a hundred people died and many hundred are still missing.


Towns totally destroyed.



People are being airlifted and evacuated.
Two mountain roads that access the area are damaged.

So we're not going.

I am disappointed beyond words.
But my heart goes out to all the lovely Ladakhi people who have lost family, friends, homes, livelihoods and are facing some time of deprivation.

This diaster is not reaching the news here as there are other huge humanitarian tragedies happening in floods in Pakistan.

Now I feel so lucky to be here and safe and secure.

One day I will be able to see that beautiful part of the world and the wonderful people.
Just not now.