Seven Things Week 30

IN (20)
1 bison jug and bowl set. Yes, another one for $10 at the same op-shop and no, I'm not sharing the secret location. The other one I'm using as my breakfast set - great for porridge. This is a little smaller, I'm thinking for hummus and drizzle oil.
1 manual coffee grinder VINNIES TUGGERANONG
2 cones laceweight NZ wool- divine GIFT
1 skein red 8ply - wooly, squishy goodness GIFT
1 skein black possum/merino blend - my favourite soft new pet (don't tell Peggy) GIFT
1 set shell stitchmarkers - GIFT
4 hats worth yarn - TSS (she's back and she's enabling)
9 balls laceweight mohair

OUT (104)
1 pr spectacles - broken BIN
1 knitted and felted BAG SWAP
1 knitting book BAG SWAP
1 note book BAG SWAP
4 balls wool BAG SWAP
9 copy sheet protectors - WORK
2 writing pads - WORK
2 binders - WORK
9 balls yarn GIFT
2 metal colanders. Purchased with the idea of making hanging baskets from them. They've been here more than a year and no hanging baskets made - OP SHOP
2 packets photo printer paper - GIFT
3 tupperware containers - OP SHOP
1 toilet roll holder - OP SHOP
1 biscuit tin - OP SHOP
1 weird basket - OP SHOP
65 TTWC - DONATIONS
2 prs bedsocks - DONATIONS
45 prs wristwarmers - DONATIONS (There were actually 90 pairs. I'm claiming half as outs as the stash from which they were knitted is mostly mine. I have, however, bought yarn for Mum in the last six months which has not made it to this list, so I'm only claiming half)
2 knitting magazines GIFTS

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (4)
1 knitted and felted bag BAG SWAP
1 Midnight Express beanie
1 Midnight Express necklet
1 TTWC

TOTALS
IN 20
OUT 104
NET OUT 84 (hurrah!)

SIAA (4)

No wuckin furries

What's the foulest four-letter word starting with "F" that you can think of?

FELT.
Effin' FELT.

People, please, remind me that I am felt-challenged. Next time you read or hear my words - "bet that wool'd felt like a bugger" smack me - HARD.

My Bag Swap Pal is going to be a tad disappointed if she thinks she's getting a lovely knitted bag from me.

First I knitted an enormous garter stitch mitred square front. Looks a little large, but this yarn is so sticky, it'll felt like a bugger - no worries.

Then I knitted a matching mitred square back. 400g seems a lot of wool to have used by this point, but, you know - felting shrinks about 30% right? - no worries.

I ran out of garter stitch puff about then, but I only had the long garter stitch band that is the base sides and strap, - no worries.

Over the Canberra Day long weekend I forced myself to knit and knit and knit the garter stitch bloody band and spent 3 hours sewing the thing together. Still, it'd be worth it and I've still got a couple of weeks - no worries.

Then it was chucked in a hot wash with some similar coloured towels and a couple of pairs of jeans. First go around it looked ok, the fibres were matting and the black colour bleeding a little, but within the bounds of reason. Definitely needed another cycle, but I'd come to expect that - no worries.

3 cycles later, a good hard rubbing by hand and some hot/cold shock therapy, the bag had felted beautifully at the bottom of the sqare and along one side, not so much the strap and the other side. Also the top of the bag refused to shrink, leaving me with a fluted top instead of a sturdy square bag. I chucked it into the naughty corner for a while (because that had worked soooo well last time). Am starting to worry, but not much.

I am reminded that I have a clothes dryer, so another hot cycle for luck and into the dryer. Seriously - no change. If anything, the strap was both felting and stretching at the same time. The fibres were matting but it seemed to be getting longer. I stuffed it with a rolled up towel and left it to fully dry.

Easter Monday and mail out was due to start. The way to fix it, I decided, was to cut and sew the strap to a reasonable size and line the bag to try and straighten it up a little - no worries, just oblivious optimism.

Apparently making tomato chutney, supervising two thirteen year old budding knitters and sewing a lining from some rather lovely Indonesian fabric that had been a friend of a friend's dress, are not compatible activities. The lining refused to come together, largely because of the irregularities of the bag, but Jess has the beginnings of her first wash cloth and a few more kilos of tomatoes have been transformed into my second favourite condiment (chilli plum sauce is the most favourite).

In a vain attempt to turn a sow's ear into a felt purse and to stabilise the obvious problem stretch spots, I machine sewed a fancy stitch in a contrast colour around the edges. Not too bad, but still not the thing of beauty of my imagination.

So now it's Thursday night - tomorrow is the last day to post bags and I've begged The Shopping Sherpa to save the day. She generously provided one of her messenger bags in a colour enjoyed by my swap pal. The other little giftees are all packed and ready to go and I'm waiting for some hand-felted i-cord to dry, because the whole package is going to be wrapped in the sad excuse for a bag so that my Pal will at least know that I tried and I'm sorry.

Toe to toe

Riot in Rio bedsocks

Mum is in need of a new knitting obsession specialisation. I am awash with wrist warmers and about to send some to other cities just to share the joy around.

She knitted some washcloths last week and enjoyed it and will do more for the gift stash. To this end I bought her 9 balls of a microfibre yarn on special at Scablight and some op-shop balls of cotton as well. It's not going to hold her for long and could get expensive as the cotton stash is well depleted.

Unravelling jumpers has slowed down her wrist warmer production somewhat, and in a clean-up last weekend I found a few more for her, but she'll have those done this week.

What I need is something that she'll enjoy, that is portable, will go to a good cause and can be supported from current boodle.

Bed socks for Kuka's Can Assist project!

I've given her the pattern, bought her new needles, taken her about 40 balls of yarn from deep within the boodle (inspired yarn/pattern match, Kuka!) and done a couple of test runs with stash yarn.

Riot in Rio knitted from Moda Vera Luxury in the Forrest colourway. Snuggly AND sparkly - I love 'em but they aren't everyone's cup of tea.

Heel detail, Riot in Rio bedsocks

And because Kuka put the Clafoutis pattern with Jet, I had a practice with some of that, too.

Camel Toe Bedsocks

Toe detail, Camel Toe Bedsocks

Seven Things Week 29

Not QUITE so bad this week, but with no let up on the work front and the other distractions in my life (anyone want a slightly dysfunctional family - ready made?), I haven't been able to concentrate on 7 things, except to indulge in some op-shop therapy. You should have seen what I left behind, though.

IN (25)
3 pieces of fabric (1 length navy wool for winter skirt; 1 length vintage sea green linen for shirt; 1 very large piece periwinkle blue wool felt for king size blanket) from Salvos Queanbeyan
1 ball yarn to finish SIL's birthday present Scablight

2 pairs curtains Scablight
9 balls knitting cotton Scablight2 vintage knitting patterns Salvos Queanbeyan
1 navy linen skirt Salvos Salvos Queanbeyan
1 lot vintage cream fringing Salvos Queanbeyan
1 vintage silver cutlery set Salvos Queanbeyan
2 lots TTWC yarn Salvos Queanbeyan
1 patchwork knitting bag Salvos Queanbeyan
1 bag spinning fibre EGMTK fibre club
1 set stitch markers EGMTK fibre club bonus - they are soooooo cute - wee little skulls!

OUT (56)
2 cushion covers OP SHOP
1 tea cosy - ruined BIN
1 glass - chipped BIN
50 balls wool DONATIONS
2 reels knitting-in elastic GIFT

SIAA (3)
2 prs bedsocks
1 washcloth

TOTALS
IN 25

OUT 56

NET OUT 31

SIAA 3

Seven Things Week 28

A week in which I fail again. I promise to do better next week - well to try harder and to not bid on online auctions for yarn.

IN (65)
3 DVDs wrong to buy new, I know, but when it's cheaper to buy new than rent the DVD at the weekly rate, it's hard to resist.
60 projects worth of yarn. This is an estimate - a conservative estimate. There was a yarnalanche at Taph Towers this week - details in the weeks to come but I blame Spidey, the absence of the Voice of Frugal Reason and a particularly stressful time at work. OK, I blame those people and things and my well documented weakness in the face of major yarn bargains.
1 knitting book
1 eyelash curler. Heated eyelash curler as used by make-up artiste to the knitting community of Canberra - Joods. Seriously fabulous piece of equipment. Neat, discrete, black, effective.

OUT (28)
1 glass - smashed BIN
1 small felted envelope - my first attempt at machine felting from about 18 months ago. It worked brilliantly but was quite, quite useless for anything. BIN
1 cd tower OP SHOP
3 DVDs GIFTS
22 books BOOKCROSSING

SIAA (3)
2 washcloths
1 TTWC

TOTALS
IN 65
OUT 28
NETT OUT - 37

SIAA 3

Seven Things Week 27

Having Monday afternoon off I popped into an op-shop or three and picked up a few items that couldn't be left behind (knitting-in elastic and knitting cotton for 50c each; Bison bowl and jug set for $10; shirts for my brother). It was the beginning of the week, I was confident I could accommodate such modest purchases.

At nightfall though, thanks to my generous friends, this goose was well and truly cooked. Gifts of yarn, equipment and reading matter all came in. I'm not complaining. But you know how it is. One little nibble of the edge of a chocolate and suddenly you're surrounded by lolly wrappers and may be permanently wedged into the chair.

I'd also forgotten about the Lifeline Bookfair. I have to attend on the first day, Friday - it's a work thing. I do have to take a break, though, and I managed to snaffle a couple of special items. I also enabled JMcK. It's true I thrust cr***et books at her; it was the smell of a bargain and I am not ashamed. As an aside, it was thrilling to see someone else knitting in the queue to get in.

This post is a day earlier than usual because I'm taking back Sundays. Sunday is now an obligation and computer free day at Taph Towers. I will not be doing stuff for anyone but me on Sundays and I will enjoy it, no matter how hard it is.

IN (67)
6 beanies worth of wool GIFTS
3 reels knitting in elastic SALVOS
4 balls knitting cotton SALVOS
1 wool winder TSS although Mum confiscated it on sight is testing it for me at her house so it may never actually make it home
1 Bison jug SALVOS
1 Bison bowl SALVOS
2 men's shirts. VINNIES. Bought for my brother who doesn't like them so I'm keeping them for refashioning
1 set old spinning and weaving journals TSS
2 craft books LIFELINE
28 vintage patterns LIFELINE
18 knitting/textile magazines LIFELINE

OUT (32)
1 shopping basket on wheels GIFT
26 balls wool DONATIONS/GIFTS
1 circular needle GIFT
3 projects worth of wool - this is a shit-load of wool, but I took it on in projects' worth so that's how it's going out. RETURN
1 pair baby socks GIFT

SIAA (2)

1 TTWC
1 washcloth

TOTALS
IN 67
OUT 32
nett out - 35

SIAA 2

image courtesy of The Colonial Theatre

Diddle liddle liddle lum

Not socks for an infant Jake the Peg - a "pair and a spare" of baby socks.

Years ago when baby knitting was pretty much all I did, I tried to always make a "pair and a spare" for people I knew because babies are expert bootee losers.

Scraps of Patons Dreamtime 4ply baby wool - each sock takes about 5g total.

All about me

Kylie and Michelle tagged me for this one, and I'm pretty sure I owe AmandaJ a meme as well.

I resent these things because I end up in a very negative place doing them. TSS suggested I do seven things that I love or which make me happy which may turn out to be weird anyway. She's brilliant. Also, I prefer not to single others out for treatment - if you wish to participate, that's fine, but I'm not tagging. I refuse to perpetuate chain mail.

It has taken me the best part of a week to compile this list.

SEVEN THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY or THINGS THAT I LOVE

1. Early mornings. Yup, I'm an early bird. Slug-a-beds think that early birds think that they, the early birds, are superior. I do not agree. I love slug-a-beds. If you are in my house, have the decency to stay in bed for at least an hour after I get up or the consequences will be ugly.

2. Silence. Quite possibly related to no. 1, or indeed, the cause of it. The older I get the more I need refuge from noise.

3. Connecting with my clients. Really, it's a complete buzz to work out what it is they want and then help them find it. Rarely does someone come in knowing how to ask for what they want and quite often they haven't been into a library for most of their lifetime. It's also a privilege to be there for the "eureka moment" in their research.

4. Green and Black organic, fair trade chocolate. The Maya Gold orange and spice infused is wonderful. So far only been able to find the Maya Gold, Milk and the 70% at Woollies. LMK if you see any of the others or the hot chocolate.

5. All things citrus. Lemons, limes, ruby grapefruit, blood oranges, mandarines, cumquats - love 'em all. My 40th birthday was all citrus.

6. Autumn!

7. Going to a good team sporting match. Most sports, I'm not that fussy, but I have a preference for hockey and football of any code. I will watch matches on TV but it isn't the same and I do not derive as much pleasure from them. Just love being at the ground. One of the things I miss about my life in Sydney is wandering down to Henson Park on a Saturday afternoon and barracking for the Newtown Jets Rugby League team. - Go the Blue Bags in their centenary year!

8. The unaccompanied human voice in song. The Song Company and the Tallis Scholars are absolute faves followed by just about any Welsh male voice choir. At one of my places of work, we often had Australian Opera singers rehearse in our hall and once I had the Sydney Male Choir all to myself for an hour - toe curlingling blissful! OK, it wasn't only the toes affected - you asked for weird things, now you have them.

Smashing pumpkins

TTWC 2008.20 with butternut

TTWC 2008.21 and my new favourite knitting spot

TSS donated a large bag of the recycled handspun bought for $2 at Vinnies. It's knitting up beautifully on 5.5mm needles and 72 stitches.

But I miss you most of all my darling...

When Autumn leaves start to fall.

On the first day of the month I wore hand-knitted socks for the first time this year and cast on a cardigan.

Despite all the the WIPs, I need to knit me a cardie right now!

This recycled 8-10ply in cherry red wants to be the Filigree Lace Jacket from White Lies Design. The pattern has been here for a while and the time seemed right.

So far it looks a bit big but how are you supposed to measure gauge across a lace piece? Is it blocked or unblocked? Surely with lace one blocks to measurements and there's a fair bit of play. It would be so much better to give WPI or stst tension and let me work it out from there. I suspect I’m going to have to go down a size. We’ll see once I finish a sleeve.

And the Powerball ticket? Not my winning entry I assure you - it's my row counting system. I cross through the numbers, having previously marked the squares where something like an increase needs to happen. I use pencil to cross through the numbers so the mark can be rubbed out when if I need to tink a row or so.

Seven Things Week 26

IN (16)

1 t-shirt
1 vintage gold glomesh change purse to match my wallet and my grandmother's cigarette case.
1 knitting magazine
9 projects worth of yarn
1 car charge for the mobile - thanks TSS
1 Tropfest DVD - thanks TSS
1 garden bench
1 garden table

OUT (92)
1 pillowcase OP SHOP
1 pillow BIN
1 library bag GIFT
60 pairs knitting needles DONATIONS
7 balls wool GIFT
1 goldfish bowl and accessories OP SHOP
1 toilet roll holder (new and in packet) OP SHOP
29 books BOOKCROSSING
1 hessian sack (my Reverse Garbage members' sack). Silly, really, but was very hard to let this go. RG was such a part of my life for a very long time. We started going while at uni to get materials for an ex's architectural models. It provided cheap materials for clothes, gifts and homewares over the years and kept several children entertained and artistically employed. I've made stage props and costumes from its bounty and when I really needed it, RG gave up a huge amount of gorgeous yarn to knit through the pain of an ex's wedding and the loss of the children I parented. But I don't live near Reverse Garbage to use the sack anymore and a friend needs it for his potatoes. GIFT

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (5)

2 Washcloths
1 set baby socks
2 TTWCs

TOTALS
IN 16
OUT 92
NET OUT 78
SIAA 5

Mad about Saffron

Tuesday is brought to you by the colour - YELLOW!


From the bottom - yellow teardrop tomatoes (and a rogue rouge one) the first to actually bloody ripen. They've been in for months! And they're in my favourite yellow enamel colander.

In the middle - bumper crop of yellow squash - they've been the marrow of (only) choice for the last month and will be going for at least another couple of weeks.

At the top - the swiss cheese bag. This has been finished for ages but I kept forgetting to post about it and then there was the fluff problem.


The pattern is Spring Green Bag (Ravelry link) by the lovely Lisa Ashton from Yarn issue 8. The yarn is Alafos Flos - a mohair wool blend.


The knitting bit was fun and the attached i-cord around the top of the bag and the i-cord handles not dire at all - the thought of metres and metres of i-cord when the bag was all knitted was worse than actually doing it. Lisa was very encouraging - particularly when it looked exactly like a string singlet for a Dalek. Apparently it was meant to look like that at that stage. Handy to know.


I do have issues with the felting process. Firstly, I had too much water in machine but only worked that out after a couple of cycles (I didn't keep filling the machine, I just put the wash cycle back a few times - all Canberrans can now stop dialling the dob-in-a-water-waster number and put down the 'phone). There was some felting but not as much or as evenly as I would prefer. Instead of just doing it all again later with less water, I kept adding stuff to be washed to enhance the agitation process. Great idea except that that one of the items I added was a chocolate brown bath towel. This time the felting worked pretty well, but was still a bit uneven and the brown fibres of the towel had felted to the bright yellow. At this point I removed the bag and put it a corner of the laundry to dry, think about it's behaviour and consider it's options.

Time passes *wubba, wubba, wubba*.

I'm about to do a white load in the machine. "Aha!" I think to myself - "Maybe if I put the bag with the brownish patches in with a white load the brownish patches will rub off ". Those of you with more experience of these things are, by now, way ahead of me and probably pointing at the screen and laughing. Yes. The browny bits were still there and have been joined by lots of white fluff (from the hand-towels added for agitation) and a couple of small white feathers. I guess one of my feather and down pillows is moulting and these came from a pillowcase. *Sigh*. The good news is, by this stage I'm happier with the eveness and degree of felting - either that or I've been so worn down by the process am willing to turn a blind eye. The bag goes back into it's corner to dry and consider it's behaviour again.

More time passes *wubba, wubba, wubba*.

So on Saturday I drag it out of the naughty corner and attack it with a disposable razor. Quite a bit of the fluff came off but by no means all. From a distance it's a sunny shade of yellow, up close it's a bit muddier and flaked with dandruff.

It's still a great pattern, I'd recommend it as a fun knit and swings off the bird feeder well.

And send him on his way...

I've been seized by the need for washcloths. I'd like some more for the bathroom as I hate showering with anything else. Also, Mum wants a few as gifts.

Washcloth for Renate who gave me some very beautiful yarn recently and who's feeling a bit blue. Actually this is an old pic - Renate's washcloth was apricot but I forgot to take a photo. The pattern's the same, though - my own chevron lace washcloth in Milford Knitting Cotton, 6ply on 3.75mm needles.

Then two of the same in navy for myself.
There was an old 2oz ball of Milford Knitting Cotton hanging around. Two washcloths out of one ball with less than 1m of yarn to spare.


While I was on a roll, this in one strand of Patons Gem 4ply and 1 strand of Milford Knitting Cotton 4ply on 3.75mm needles. The pattern is Kitchen Cotton.

Haturday

Spent last night playing catch up with Time Thief Watch Caps - so many were near to being finished. Now they're done and the needles are all reloaded and ready to go.

Just in time. There was a definite nip in the air this morning - almost time to take a batch over to Stasia and to the women's refuge. Probably after the long weekend.

TTWC 2008.010; 2008.012 yarn recycled from jumpers

TTWCs 2008.013-015 Recycled yarn (nearly all finished - mighty sick of bottle green now)

TTWC 2008.016 Recycled yarn

TTWC 2008.017 Sirdar Pullman; TTWC 2008.018 mystery 14ply

TTWC Jr. 2008.019 Vintage Patons Jet and recycled Patons Family 12ply

Seven Things Week 25

IN (11)
3 textile magazines
1 wooden swivelly thing that will be a new sewing tidy when I've fixed it up
1 pair trousers - finally a pair of navy trews to replace ones disposed of a couple of months ago
1 box vintage Fuzzy Wuzzy Angora - shut up that it's 10 balls, this isn't stash, this is art and it's one.
4 bras
1 sewing tidy because of course I found one already made 6 days after I'd bought something to upcycle. I'll still upcycle because I have more cottons and notions than will fit any single sewing tidy.

OUT (31)
4 crocheted bells GIFT
2 books BOOKCROSSING
1 video tape BIN
2 Calorimetries GIFTS
2 lacy headbands GIFTS
2 greeting cards GIFTS
16 coathangers RECYCLING
1 stuffed toy - Rosie's favourite Tigger toy is no more. All the stuffing is gone and the squeaker fell out. Tigger is beyond microsurgery. BIN
1 hair accessory BIN

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (7)
1 pair baby socks
4 TTWCs
1 'phone cosy
1 knitted and felted bag

Scrap Happy

I love using scraps of yarn - makes me feel extra specially thrifty. I also think of it as housework because I'm tidying away all those scraps. "No, I'm not sitting here knitting, I'm tidying up" - totally believable.

Socks for Aneka and Chris's baby, 10g Patons Dreamtime 4ply on 2.5mm bamboo needles

A pair of socks for a baby due on Friday. I prefer to make a pair and a spare of baby bootees/socks, but was 1 measly gram short of three socks in this yarn. Fear not, the last 4g are going to be contrast heels and toes of another set. This is the Left Over Baby Sock pattern by Matthew Hesson-McInnis.

And then there's a 'phone sock. Not entirely sure how this happened - I was playing around with the idea of a toddler sized sock out of this small amount of hand painted 5ply crepe and was suddenly seized by the need for a 'phone sock. The yarn is just too pretty to give away.

For my old Nokia. 32 stitches in double rib for 48 rounds and a three-needle cast off on 3.75mm dpns.

Seven Things Week 24

Here I say farewell to TSS and maybe others who've joined in this challenge for Spring and Summer (although Summer ain't actually over yet). I hope you've learned as much as I have. It's been great having you all along for the ride and I thank you very much for your support.

I'm continuing the challenge. I need to keep going for a while - at least another 3 months to consolidate the lessons I've learned and to reinforce new behaviours. You might not think from the Frugal Fiesta (TM) last week that much has been learned at all but I know how well I did.

IN (62)
1 cook book from TSS
1 magazine
60 balls wool (equivalent) GIFTS/OP SHOP


OUT (372)

1 ghetto blaster OP SHOP
76 books LIFELINE
1 wallet OP SHOP
1 blank diary OP SHOP
21 postcards GIFTS
2 floppy disc covers RECYCLING
4 bags OP SHOP
30 keyrings DONATION
2 prs pantyhose reused as knee highs, then as broom covers for cobwebs now had it. BIN
9 vintage iron-on embroidery transfers GIFTS
1 carton assorted old files and papers RECYCLING
1 pot holder OP SHOP
1 stationery set OP SHOP
6 craft kits DONATION
8 alkaline batteries WORK
3 needle cases OP SHOP/DONATIONS
1 knitting bag DONATION
3 wine glasses OP SHOP
2 tea mugs OP SHOP
2 video cassettes BIN
6 audio cassettes BIN
1 scarf GIFT
1 neck warmer GIFT
1 woodwork pattern OP SHOP
2 bags acrylic felt OP SHOP
1 box gel pens OP SHOP
33 pairs knitting needles TSS/DONATIONS
11 crochet hooks DONATIONS
1 cable needle TSS
4 data CDs
1 bracelet GIFT
105 balls (equivalent) yarn GIFTS
3 bath towels DOG GROOMER
11 knitting pattern books GIFTS/OP SHOP
2 hats OP SHOP
2 bras BIN
3 sewing pattern magazines OP SHOP
4 plastic coat hangers RECYCLING
1 length fabric OP SHOP
2 tops OP SHOP
1 skirt OP SHOP
1 set sheet TSS
1 fabric wine sleeve GIFT
1 washcloth GIFT


SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (8)

4 TTWCs
1 fabric wine sleeve (sewn)
1 blouse (sewn)
2 wash cloths (knitted)

Library Lovers' Day

We know how to celebrate Library Lovers' Day in style where I work.

TTWC 2008.011. Recycled bulky wool.

I celebrated by finishing a cosy for the sparkling shiraz.

And followed it up by meeting TSS and her friend S at the National Library for a screening of Land Mines : A Love Story. The cherry on the cake - S knits - so three of us happily knitted TTWCs throughout.

Hope your Library Lovers' Day was as heart warming and cosy as mine.

Welcome and Sorry

It was so moving last night to watch the coverage of the Welcome to Country ceremony at Parliament House. It was particularly moving because the welcome was made by a woman I have known since childhood and involved her grandhildren and her son who are neighbours and with whom I have discussed some of these issues.

Last Canberra Day I posted about the geography of my heart when it comes to this place.

I am not an indigenous Australian. My family came out with the First Fleet, so we were part of what is called the white invasion of this continent from the very beginning. We have enjoyed all of the privileges extended to the Europeans but denied to Aboriginal Australians.

Matilda's warm, genuine, inclusive and dignified welcome yesterday felt like a personal welcome home.

I am yet to see the coverage of the Prime Minister's Apology to the Stolen Generations on behalf of us all but I fully support the apology.

Seven Things Week 23

Until yesterday there were only 2 things in.

I'm pretty stressed out at the moment. Twice in the last week I could have done real damage on the retail therapy front. Friday night I tried on everything that might fit in My Size and came out empty handed despite there being several items that looked fine and were on sale. Also during the week I had an online shopping basket full of more than $300 worth of sale items from The Wool Shack. Again, I purchased nothing.

Yesterday's Frugal Fiesta was the lesser of any number of evils and almost everything fitted into the defined collection development policy.

IN (58)
2 knitting magazines
27 knitting patterns - FRUGAL FIESTA.
3 prs socks worth vintage Patonyle FRUGAL FIESTA
1 set vintage cotton sheets FRUGAL FIESTA
1 cup and saucer set FRUGAL FIESTA
4 cassette tapes for the car FRUGAL FIESTA
3 reels knitting-in elastic FRUGAL FIESTA
2 vintage hankies FRUGAL FIESTA
4 books FRUGAL FIESTA
1 bone handled fish fork FRUGAL FIESTA
1 set pewter buttons FRUGAL FIESTA
1 set knitting needles FRUGAL FIESTA
1 glasses case FRUGAL FIESTA
1 sigg bottle FRUGAL FIESTA
1 wet weather poncho FRUGAL FIESTA
5 sets videos TSS

OUT (75)
7 sewing patterns OP SHOP
7 craft books OP SHOP
2 jumpers OP SHOP
1 top GIFT
1 skirt OP SHOP
32 books BOOKCROSSING
1 book GIFT
19 balls yarn GIFTS
1 water bottle RECYCLING
1 glasses case BIN
2 plastic measuring cups RECYCLING
1 video cassette BIN

SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT (3)
1 scarf
2 TTWCs

TOTALS

IN 58

OUT 75

NETT OUT 17
SIAA 3