What's Hot & What's Not

It’s Wednesday … I can hardly believe where the weeks go time seems to be passing so quickly. Is the same thing happening to you?

What’s Hot

Baby knitting finished. Last night I finished the scarf and hat I’ve been making for baby Hannah. I love the colour combination (although I couldn't photograph it properly) and the yarn is so soft and warm. I hope Holly likes them.


Knitting socks. I’ve learnt to knit sock on an 80cm round needle … and it’s so exciting. Isn’t it silly to feel so clever about something just about anybody could do … but I do! It's like growing up in the knitting world; a right of passage as it were. I love knowing how to do it.


Exercise. After two weeks of doing nothing more than walking I went back to Yoga yesterday and Pilates tomorrow. I feel so much better and I was happy not to have lost too much of the strength I/ve built up over the last eight months. I even managed four rather pathetic push ups last night … showing off to Mr H.

Craft groups. I’ve managed to find three amazing craft groups that I can’t choose between them. They’re all different and fit different parts of me: NCB is large and vibrant. The crafts represented are really wide and varied, and a larger group usually gets together. They’re a great group to get together and chat about anything and everything. NCB meets once a fortnight on a week night and not much crafting ever gets done (by me). Perle 8 is a smaller and quieter group who mainly knit and quilt, so it’s easier to chat with people. They meet every week on a week night and I always get some crafting done. My last group is a knitting group through Ravelry … and it’s nice to spend time just with people who knit. It’s a small group who meet once a month for lunch and I always get a little knitting done.

New shoes. I’ve been looking for a not too high heeled pair of brown shoes and on Monday I caught sight of the perfect pair at Campers. They are so soft and comfortable and have a relatively low wedge heel. They were more expensive than I wanted to pay but I’ve been looking for so long I just sucked it up.


What’s Not

Not enough time. I just have so many things I want to get done at the moment I feel as though I’m swimming against the tide.

Sore toe. I have no idea what I’ve done but the darn thing is swollen and painful. I might have to make a visit to the doctor if it doesn’t improve over the next couple of days.

Busted TV. My TV of two years went blind (no picture) and is currently with the doctor having something or other replaced. I miss my little darling and I’ll be so happy to get it back on Friday.
Overheating computer. The computer’s likely to go critical soon so I’m watching it carefully because I can’t bear to be without it. But I’m going to have to bite the bullet and once the TV’s back and hooked up I’ll drop the darn thing off on Saturday morning. I’m so sad already.

Wanna play? I bet there’s lots happening around your place as well: sick kids, crafting achieved, new car, work plans … I’d love to hear.

Ruby Tuesday

Last week I was wracking my brain for a red photo and I had one all along … at least I get to use it now.

I was in Malvern a couple of weeks ago and in a wonderful mood … I’d had a nice homemade pumpkin soup for lunch and bought way too much double cream fudge (although it was delish!), and with arms full of op shop goodies I was making my way to the train and home.

And these red shoes caught my eye from a shop window.


Aren’t they amazing? And not just the red shoes but every single shoe in the window.


In in our world of mass produced and synthetic everything all the shoes you see in the window are handmade … and handmade by Rocco of Malvern (in Melbourne, Australia).


I was so excited I put my handbag, camera case and goodies in the street and started shooting. I love all things handmade being a crafter myself and I went to the door intending to ask Rocco if I could take photos to put on my blog.

But no joy … I’d missed Rocco by a mere 30 minutes.


I wonder whether Rocco would have been interested?

For lots more Ruby Tuesday redness ... check out Mary's blog Work of the Poet.

Good things: What's Hot and What's Not

Another day I'm asking myself "Where has my life gone?" because all I can this is "It's hump day again". Not complaining ... very happy! Hooray ... because it's time for What's Hot and What's Not.

What's Hot

Three day week. That's right. I had Monday off and have Friday off on a flex ... and it's still hump day today. The middle of a three day week. I'm really celebrating that.

NCB. It's Northern Craft Bonanza week and tomorrow is our crafty get together. It's always fun and it doesn't matter how late I stay out because I have Friday off! See above.

Early rising. I'm loving getting up early and I'm almost (but not quite) in an early to bed pattern. I feel so much more rested and it's so much easier to cope with the day. That, and eating well too.

Books. I've been reading so much lately ... and my world seems to be filled with Florence Broadhurst for some reason. First it was a Gillian Armstrong documentary on the ABC and then a work colleague was reading a book on her that she thought I would enjoy. And I am ... she was the most amazing flamboyant woman who was the brainchild behind wallpaper still considered classic today.


What's Not

Shoes. All my shoes seem to be wearing out simultaneously and I'm in a flurry of resoling and reheeling ... and nowhere can I find the flat, square toed shoes I prefer to wear each day because of my massively wide flippers ... er, feet (I'm a D fitting)!

Detail. I can remember stuff that happened to me years ago ... my recollection for detail is the stuff of legend at work. But I'm not so good when working with too much detail. It overwhelms me and I spend most of my time thinking I've forgotten something. Fortunately, the tasks will soon be over and then I can move on ... phew!

Knitting. I got some knitting done ... but tore it out five times because it didn't look right. Then I discovered yesterday that the reason why I wasn't happy is because I've been doing it wrong and I'm not sure yet how to fix it.

My Place & Yours Sat 30 Jan 10

MY PLACE & YOURS: Shoes
This week's theme for My Place & Yours is one that will never pall as long as women are well, women ... shoes, of course.

Thanks Vic and Gypsy too, for this week's theme.

I have so many shoes I couldn't think of a way to line them all up and actually be able to photograph them ... so I concentrated on my collection of flat Mary Janes and just grabbed one shoe only.


These are the Mary Janes I wear all the time ... a very comfortable collection.

I refuse to wear uncomfortable shoes any more ... I like shoes to fit but I like them to look nice and I confess I often pay more for them than I should considering how utilitarian my shoes always look. (Ssssh Don't tell my husband!)

Project 365 Sat 11 Apr 09

NEW GREEN SHOES
Getting ready for the trip continues. I plan on taking two pairs of shoes with me: one pair for the wedding and another pair to wear every day no matter where we go or what we do.

The only thing is my sneakers are heavy and clunky, and my casual shoes are years old and I don't know whether they'll stand up.

So I splurged and bought a new pair of flats:
Mary Janes: check
Wide fitting: check
Good with trousers and dresses: check
Red: NO!!!!!!!!!!!!


My new green shoes.

Yes, you read right and your eyes aren't deceiving you ... I bought green shoes. But don't be thinking it was through choice. I tried on these shoes in bright red but they were too big and they were all out of my size.

I have to say though that I'm happy with my new babies: they are so comfortable and I'm loving the gorgeous olive green.

Project 365 Tue 24 Mar 09

I LOVE MY BRIGHT RED MARY JANES
In honour of my love of red, of many women's love of shoes and because I can ... I thought I'd use a picture of my favourite shoes for today's photo of the day.


My beautiful little babies!

I love these babies for so many reasons.

1. They're red ... not a gentle, soft red but a bright in your face red.

2. They're Mary Janes. I haven't worn anything but Mary Janes for years and I was so glad to find a pair that were just a little different.

3. They're suede and leather. I love the texture and difference, and especially the little touch of suede across the toes.

4. They're wedges ... It's so good wedges are back because they look better than a lower heel, especially kitten heels.

5. They go with everything. I wear so much black and cream that wearing bright red shoes with them, especially a pair that looks more formal than plain black shoes dresses up everything I wear while adding a welcome splash of colour.

What more can I say?