WIP Wednesday 30/03/2011

While my hooks have been very busy this week I haven't actually finished any projects. This is kind of a first for me as I usually have 2 or 3 items finished each week. I do have one project that is almost finished.

Woolen Beanie with a loose end to sew in.

My Salvation Army Crest rug is also almost finished, I just need to decide how wide I'm going to make the border.

Almost finished rug.

I think I'll use the second ball of blue that I have available.

I have made some progress on the Rose Clan Dress Tartan rug.

It's on hold while I work on an order that I received on Saturday.

The purple matinee jacket has seen a little progress.

As has the tunisian crochet dishcloth.

The project that is currently holding up progress on everything else is a baby's ensemble.

Pink Baby's jacket completed

Pants have been started

There is also a bonnet to go once I've completed the pants.

When I took the order I forgot to ask what size the lady wanted and when I rang to ask her she asked if I could also make a shawl, so that will be the next project to get priority.

I also sold a small bunny on Saturday and am debating whether to replace it with another small bunny or pick something else out of my vast collection of patterns. The bunnies seem to sell quite well so I might make another and wait until I finish a few other projects before tackling another toy.

I think that's enough projects to have on the go at one time although I still have plenty that I want to make.

Richard.

Come, Serve, Follow

The reading this morning was from Mark 8:34-38

This morning was a special service to dedicate a special little girl, the COs youngest daughter, Hannah Rose Lupis, and the message was brought to us by her grandmother who also did the dedication.

The slogan "From little things big things grow" is quite well known in this part of the world. Advertisers use slogans to catch our attention.

Jesus also used many slogans during His time on earth. One of them being "take up your cross, deny self and follow me".

Carrying our cross is something that most (if not all) of us don't really want to do, and few of us really understand what it actually means. Carrying your cross was the last act before being crucified in Jesus' time and not something that people volunteered to do, yet Christ asks this of all His followers.

Carrying your cross in this sense doesn't mean carrying a physical cross. It means stepping out of your comfort zone for Christ. Quite a few people would die for Christ (and many have) but are we prepared to live for Him? To die for Christ is the easier option.

Society teaches us to indulge ourselves. Denying ourselves means living for Christ. The best way to give up an addiction is to focus on something else. God wants us to focus on Him.

Following Jesus is a pleasure because we are following the best. Going to church is where we learn how to follow Him.

Richard.

The Week that was 26/03/2011

This has been a very good week! Lots of crochet has been done, plenty of exercise and sold quite a bit today.

I had a bit of excitement this week when a package arrived out of the blue. I hadn't ordered anything so I wasn't expecting anything when the courier pulled up outside our home to deliver a fedex package. It contained this:-

A Red Heart prize pack containing 4 balls of Red Heart Boutique yarn, a pair of knitting needles and a pattern for a beanie and scarf in a nice red carry bag. I have never won anything like this before! I don't know what I will do if I win the major prize of 75 skeins of Super Saver, a bunch of booklets and a years subscription to Crochet Today and Knitting Today, I already have more yarn than I know what to do with.

Sue has now started a gym program so we're now going 4 mornings a week, 2 for Aqua Aerobics and 2 for the gym. If this doesn't get the weight down then I will just have to stop eating. Last night we had a dress-up night as part of a celebration for a horse race (we're salvos so don't gamble, but we had a fun night anyway) and I tried to fit into the suit I wore on my wedding day but found that it was still a couple of sizes too small.

The crochet classes are going OK, we had 3 ladies there yesterday morning. Next week I will be teaching on my own as the guy who currently teaches is having the day off. He is planning on taking a holiday after June so the teaching job will be mine from then on.

Today we went down to Benalla for the "Make, bake it, grow it" market day. We sold $85 worth of goods, $9 better than last month, and got an order for a baby's ensemble which will kick-start next months sales. Among the sales was a small bunny, a bookmark, a large jug cover and several towels. The only items I'm adding to my to-do list are the baby's ensemble and the bunny as I have plenty of towels and bookmarks for the next market.

So, my to-do list looks something like this now:-

Baby's ensemble (jacket, pants and bonnet) in pink - ordered for baby due in a couple of months.
Small bunny - replacement for item sold.
Woolen Beanie - almost finished.
Woolen Scarf - to match beanie (will start once beanie is finished)
Purple Matinee Jacket - about 50% done
Purple Booties - to match matinee jacket (will start when jacket is finished)
Purple Bonnet - to go with booties and jacket (will start when booties are done)
Tricot Dishcloth - 75% done
Rose Clan Dress Tartan Rug - just started
Knitted Beanie and Scarf - I won the kit, I might as well make use of it
A new jumper (sweater for you Americans) for me - I bought a copy of Drew Emborsky's "designs for guys" and found one that I want to make.
Tricot Toddlers Jacket - I bought Ellen Gormley's pattern and an extendable hook to try out a new technique.
Croknit Blanket - I bought a couple of double-ended hooks and want to try another new technique.
Bottle cosies in Salvation Army colours - the bottom has fallen out of the ones we currently use and I want to replace them, besides, some people at church have expressed an interest in these also.
A Set of Australiana Table Runners - I have an idea to do one for each state
A filet crochet doily in 40 cotton - I got the pattern a while ago and still haven't got the yarn for it.
About a million other things that I have patterns or ideas for (maybe that 75 skeins will come in handy after all)

Anybody got anything else they want me to make? I'm sure I'll be able to fit it in sometime around 2015.

Richard.

WIP Wednesday 23/03/2011

The hooks have been busy again this week with 2 items completed.

The first completed item is a teapot cosy.

This is another stitch pattern from one of my favourite books. This one is called "Catherine Wheel". I decided not to shape this one just to see how it looked, also, this particular stitch doesn't really lend itself to shaping very well. I think it turned out quite good.

The next item finished was one that had been on my hook for quite some time.

Here is the Rose Clan Hunting Tartan in all its glory. I didn't follow the pattern exactly so it ended up a bit bigger than it would have otherwise and the only place I could lay it flat for the photo was the living room floor.

Still on the hooks are the baby's jacket.

The woolen beanie, which is almost finished..

The dishcloth in tunisian short rows.

And, just started, the Rose Clan Dress Tartan.

This one may actually turn out to be larger than the Hunting Tartan as I didn't actually have a pattern for it and I worked it out from a tie I bought for my wedding. I have 2 of those 400g balls of red and I expect to use most of the yarn in them for this as there is a lot of red in this tartan.

I have also made some progress on the Salvation Army Crest rug but I didn't think it worth taking a photo just to show you the extra 2 rows.

I think my to-do list just got a little larger this week with the unexpected arrival of a package and the purchase of some new tools that I will tell more about on Saturday.

Richard.

The Spittin' Image

The reading today came from 1 John 3:1-6.

Most people have seen the picture of dogs that look like their owners (or is that the other way around). If you haven't, have a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=642qxehEcGg

I think we have all heard how much children resemble their parents. I have often been told that if I went back to the town where I was born I wouldn't need to tell people my name to be given directions to my relative homes. I have also experienced the odd feeling the I was looking at my father's face when looking in the mirror (although dad tells me that I take after mum's family). We can't avoid being like our parents. Our likeness to our parents shows our relationship.

John applies the same principle with our relationship with God. People should be able to tell that we have a relationship with God just by observing us. We are children of God if we accept Jesus Christ.


Gos loved us so much that he sent his son to die for us and then adopted us as His children. God's love is unconditional, it doesn't depend on our performance but that shouldn't stop us from doing act of love.

The challenge this week is to do something to show the love of God.

Richard.

The Week that was 19/03/2011

This week started off on a low note with the funeral of one of corps members. She specifically request that the band play during her funeral so we gathered all the band members that were available and dragged a few in from a neighbouring corps and put on a good show.

Sue and I have also been looking at more rental properties.We have found several that are more suitable than the one we're in, but so far we haven't been successful.

On the crochet front, I've finished a teapot cosy and have almost finished the tartan rug. I should have pictures of all my projects on Wednesday.

We've been waiting to hear back from the organisers of the Moyhu Markets, but since they haven't got back to us we had the day off. Next week we will be in Benalla.

That's what's happened at Rose Manor this week.

Richard.

WIP Wednesday 16/03/2011

At the start of the day I thought that this might be the first week for a long while that I didn't finish anything but then I managed to sit down for a little while after my session at the gym and finish the toddlers sunhat that I was making to replace the one I sold last Saturday. Here it is!

I have been working on several other projects this week. I actually have 3 projects in my bag that I take with to doctors, chiro and other appointments. They are:-

A beanie in self stripping wool.

 It's a little bigger than the it was a couple of weeks ago.

A dishcloth in Tunisian Crochet (I saw something like this in someone's blog and thought I would have a go).

 I only started this last friday at crochet class.

A baby's jacket in classic shell stitch.

I managed to get the shell pattern started this week which means that I can continue this with referring to the pattern now.

I also have another bag that goes with me to crochet class and market. It contains the Salvation Army blanket.

I added a couple more rows to the border since last time.

And the project that current resides near my lounge chair.

Rose Clan Hunting Tartan Rug.

I finished weaving all the chains and have started on the border. Hopefully this will be finished by next week, but no promises.

I still need to make a new tea cosy to replace the one sold last Saturday and I'll probably start on that tomorrow. I just need to pick out colours and stitches. I might make this one in shades of pink and purple, just to be different.

That's all that on my hooks at the moment.

Richard.

Sabbath

Two readings today, Genesis 2:1-3 and Matthew 11:28-30

What do you think of when you think of the sabbath? Most think of Sunday and going to church (unless you belong to an orthodox church that has their meeting on Saturday's).

Most people claim that they don't have enough time but have you ever stopped to think how busy God is? After creating the universe and everything in it, God rested. We need to follow God's example and rest. If God needs to rest and refresh then we need to do likewise.

If you keep a bow taught it will eventually break but if you unstring when it is not needed it will last longer and be available when you do need it.

What is Sabbath?
Sabbath is when you connect with God. It is not a time off work for doing more work (housework, errands, gardening, etc), it's a time to spend with God.

Why is Sabbath important?
If we keep pushing ourselves we will burn out or become weary to the point of exhaustion. We need rest.

Even Jesus took time out to pray and spend time with God. Jesus knew when it was time to rest.

Sabbath rest is not running away from our responsibilities, it's a time to stop and recharge.

How do we do Sabbath
Everybody is different, how you spend time with God, where, when and what you do must be intentional and the focus must be on Him.

Take time to rest, recharge and be with God, it will help you get through life.

Richard.

The Week that was 12/03/2011

A pretty average week this week, went to the gym on Monday and Wednesday mornings, had a weigh on Thursday morning (lost 3 kg since last weigh in - woo hoo!), crochet class on Friday morning and markets this morning.

My reward for losing 3 kg is more exercise! That's right, I get to add a couple more tortures to my gym routine. Hardly seems fair, does it?

The ladies that we are teaching at crochet class seem to be doing quite well on their own, although one keeps losing stitches somehow. I guess I'm going to have to figure that out when the other guy goes on holiday. That's right, 2 guys teaching women how to crochet! How unusual is that?

The market this morning went quite well. We sold $50 worth of stock. After paying the stall fee, materials and petrol, I think we made about $5 profit. Don't tell the taxman or he will want his cut.

As a result of this morning's sales I now have 2 more items to add to my to-do list. A todlers sunhat and a tea cosy. I have enough of the other items so I don't need to replace them just yet.

Next week is already looking a bit different. We have a funeral on Monday (they have requested the bands services) and the diabetes people on Monday afternoon.

How was your week this week?

Richard.

WIP Wednesday 09/03/2011

I know some people use separate blog post to show their completed items and the progress on the incomplete items but figure that completing a project show more progress than adding to an incomplete one, so, here is my only completed project this week.

Tommy Turtle.

This is the fourth turtle I've made from this pattern. The first sold within 2 weeks of completion and 2 others were ordered by a friend after seeing the first. Lets see how this one does.

While I have made progress on the other 4 projects that I have on the go at the moment, only one of them is significant enough for it to be visible in a photo.

Rose Clan Hunting Tartan Rug.

I actually pulled out every second chain that I had already threaded and re-threaded them so that they were offset from the others. I think that it looks better that way.

Sue has also made progress on her tartan rug.

Murray of Athol Tartan Rug.

She thought she had actually finished it but I noticed, while I was setting it up for this photo, that there were a few threads to be woven in or snipped.

That's most of what we've been doing this week. Hopefull I will have a bit more to show on the other projects next week.

Richard.

Tithing - its a spiritual discipline

The reading for this week comes from 2 Corinthians 8:1-7


In the Salvation Army, we're entering a time know as "Self Denial". It's where we give up some luxury for a period and then give the money that we would normally spend on that luxury for the work of The Salvation Army in countries where the Army is doing mission work.

At times we get so embarrassed that we want a black hole to swallow us up. As christians, we often find ourselves wanting to hide, especiall when it comes time to discuss one particular subject - tithing.

Tithing is not just about money, it's about our relationship with God, and also involves giving of our time. Giving is about putting our trust in God and being obedient to what He wants us to do.

Like the Macedonians, who gave to those in far off places, we should also give, and the grace of God will be with us. But it's not just about us! The Macedonians caught the vision and wanted to help spread the gospel and bring salvation to the world.

If our only motivation is the saving of souls then we will be blessed. To God be the glory, great things He has done. How often do we count our blessings and give thanks to God? God won't bless us if our only motivation is to receive a blessing.

Our relationship with God should be strong enough to give sacrificially, not because we want something from Him but because we want to do something for Him.

Many are willing to give God credit but few are willing to give Him cash.

Richard

The Week that was 05/03/2011

Today is the first anniversary of my retrenchment, not that I can say that I'm unemployed, looking after Sue is pretty much a full time job, but it doesn't pay very well. I had that job for almost 17 years, so it was a bit of a shock to the system when they gave me the new. It also came 3 years too early for what I had planned. In 2 years time I will be eligible for early retirement and will be able to start drawing on my Super.

It has been a year of ups and downs. Bad investments have caused us some financial hardship. We moved to Albury because we couldn't afford the rents in Canberra and it has taken some time to find our way around, but now things are settling down. I have found markets for our craft, I'm teaching people crochet, and there is a possibility that I may get paid to teach some refugees.

Sue and I have joined a gym, which is something I thought I would never do. I have never been into fitness so this sort of thing is kinda strange to me, but I actually look forward to going.

This isn't supposed to be "The Year That Was" but the date is just so significant that I couldn't let it pass without comment.

This week has seen us go through another down cycle with Sue being diagnosed with diabetes. She also got herself booked into the hospital to have both her knees replaced, which they say will happen within 365 days of lodging the paperwork.

On the craft front, I have managed to finish a few item this week, most of which appeared in blog on Wednesday, started a few more, one of which I also finished. I will show off the finished item on Wednesday.

This week we have also been look around at rental properties. The place we are currently living in has become unsuitable as Sue knees deteriorate because of the steps, so we're currently looking for a place that either has shallower steps or is suitable for installing a ramp.

I think that that is enough rambling for now.

Richard.

WIP Wednesday 02/03/2011

Another productive week this week with several items finished and a few more started. I'll start with the finished items.

A sunhat with matching booties in pink (not sure where that blue tinge comes from) to replace the ones I sold a few weeks back.

Wine glass socks also to replace the set I sold.

The scarf that I started a few weeks ago from the wool I bought when visiting Bendigo last August.

There has been some progress on the Salvation Army Crest blanket that I have been working on.

I have completed the crest part and started on the border. Since there is no more changes in colour, this shouldn't take long to complete now, and then I can concentrate on other things.

I also started a few new projects (yeah I know, I'm a glutton for punishment).

Two halves of a large turtle.

The start of a beanie.

And the start of a baby's matinée jacket.

All this while planning my next major project which may come from this book.

Or maybe I'll start on those table runners I spoke of last week, but then, I'll probably have both a new jumper (sweater) for me and a table runner in production at the same time, along with all the stuff to replace whatever I sell. I'm a very busy boy.

That's all that is and has been on my hooks this week.

Richard.