Second Block

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Block number two, for you…

Wool: Elle Rustica

Colour: Algae

Stitches: 22 st

Rows: 34 r

Needles: 6.5mm Elle Bamboo

This block was created using the left over wool from my first jersey / pullover. I learnt the double rib stitch knitting my first jersey, so used this technique for this block.

I still haven’t got round to making tags, hopefully this weekend.

Poetry

“If you cannot be a poet, be the poem.” – David Carradine

Grandpa Vipond

On Saturday morning my Grandfather (my mom’s Dad) passed away…

He has been ill for almost 20 years and in September 2007, the Doctors gave him 6 months, so he had 2 extra months with us.

My sister Joy , who lives in Australia with my Dad, wrote this and pasted it on her Facebook page in honor of Grandpa Vipond:

a man that gave life its name

Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 4:03pm

today I sat at “home” in Australia waiting to get an sms from my mom to go online to chat to her and Sarah… when I do finally get the sms…. instead of it saying we are online waiting for a chat… it says grandpa has just been rushed to hospital again… note the word again
for years he has been in and out of hospital… he had everything wrong with him that you can think of arthritis, osteoporosis emphysema, skin cancer, he would have strokes, heart attacks seizures… with every visit to the hospital doctors would be amazed that he was still alive… he was a living skeleton… doctors would say every year that it would be he’s last year yet he still carried on living….
bum’d that I wasn’t gonna be able to have a chat with my mom and Sarah… I carried on with my normal day and sat in front of the TV… as always my mind wondered and I started thinking of a name I would one day name my son… when all of a sudden the name William (my grandfathers name) came to my head… as his named came to my head I received another sms from my mom saying I’m sorry but your grandfather just passed away… at first I didn’t believe it as he always pulls through no matter what… still in disbelief I went to go tell my father the news… it hit me right there and then… the one man that I looked up to is gone

he was everything a man should be… in he’s younger years he was tall and handsome… a successful business man and the worlds best family man… he was loving, caring and a charity man…

having a close someone pass away you regret the things you never said to them… I regret not telling him I look up to him and that I didn’t tell him enough that I loved him

he loved watching his sports… rugby and soccer being his favourite with his castle lager and peanuts… I loved sitting watching with him… even though he was so weak you could just see the excitement in his face while watching a good game

who ever reads this is probably thing why the crap are you writing this on facebook… to be honest I’m not really sure… I felt I needed to do something just get it all out… I need to tell someone how wonderful he was

with me still stuck in Australia waiting for my renewed passport I doubt I’ll make it to his funeral… so there’s a song I want to put up that explains how much I’ll miss him… the man that gave life its name

Once in a life time there’s a man you’ve known forever
that could impact so seriously on your life
and to know that me being here brought him joy
its an honor I cant possibly believe
now there’s a tear on my guitar
and your face it appears so far away
but your presents continues to multiply
and your face I see it in everyone’s eyes
essentially you’re part of the reason I’m here today
a man I wished I’d known better
how can you do so much in just 73 years
for each of those days I shed 73 tears
the pictures they may have faded
but the memories, the memories they will stay
and to know as I lay awake at night
your face is just a dream away
the man that gave life its name
and as the wind blows I swear it whispers your name
it sounds like angels giving praise
oh to the man that lived his life a shinning star
oh to the man that gave life its name

everyday i shall light a candle in memory of my shinning star
R.I.P grandpa you’ll be in my memories till the day I see you again
love you forever and always
21/02/1935 – 24/05/2008

 

I will be a poll bearer at his funeral on Thursday morning. I feel that he is in a much better place now, pain free.

Finally Finished

I can hardly believe it. I have finally finished my first knitted jersey.

Take a look, ta da…

This is the front. Its really thick and rustic. I really battled to sew it together, but I learnt a lot, and my next project will be much better.

The back was done in rib stitch, another technique I’ve learnt, so my next block will knit in that stitch pattern.

Any beginner pattern suggestion are most welcome…

Stars of Communication Award

Heidi asked me about the Stars of Communication award that I mentioned in my previous blog and thought it would be nice to write about it…

I used to work for Saint-Gobain Group and each year the the Group celebrates excellence in communication, awarding Communication Stars for the very highest calibre of performance. The winners were announced in Paris following fierce competition between 224 submissions from 32 countries.  I earned the award for “Buzz” – BPB Gypsum’s (now known as Gyproc) internal publication – for the best corporate magazine. The award recognised the publication’s success at overcoming communication challenges which included using pictures and basic English to communicate to the company where 11 languages are spoken. (South Africa has 11 official languages).

It’s a pity that the company in South Africa didn’t appreciate me, as I did enjoy my job, but felt I needed to move on. My husband still works there (we meet at work).

 

Learning to love you more…

I have seen a few of these type of posts on other blogs and yesterday Heidi posted her contribution. I immediately decided that I would try it. Learning to love you more is a totally unique concept giving visitors assignments to carry out and submit. I’m not going to submit mine, as I didn’t follow the rules 100%, but I did it for me and appreciate the way it makes you think about yourself.

I did Assignment 55: Photograph a significant outfit:

This was the outfit I wore when I accepted my Star of Communication award. It was totally an unplanned outfit. I wore this outfit to the day workshop that was before the ceremony, which ran overtime and I didn’t have time to change. My gran had made me a a beautiful dress, that I planned to wear. But the ceremony was so great and I felt so special anyway, that my clothing didn’t matter at all… 

I would like to try a few more assignments, and see how it goes.

 

Day Off

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to get the day off. I work for HOMEMAKERSonline, which I thoroughly enjoy. Besides going to the dentist to get a crown (am I now a princess? – hehehehe), I got stuck into our spare room and started to create a craft room for myself.

I was slightly annoyed with the retailer where I bought my wood for my table, as they cut the piece that was supposed to be the table top, too small. But that will give me an excuse to get another piece and use this piece to create an ottoman.

I sorted out all my ribbon and paper, which felt good. David will put shelves up for me on the weekend. I hung other curtains up, which immediately made a huge difference. I will make a tie-back this evening.

As I go along, I will post some photos. I’m so excited to finally have my own space to work in…

First Block

I feel it within, I feel it begin…

Wool: Elle Rustica

Colour: Algae

Stitches: 22 st

Rows: 34 r

Needles: 6.5mm Elle Bamboo

This block was created using the left over wool from my first jersey / pullover. I learnt how to purl knitting the jersey, so I decided to use this technique for this block.

I will be making tags this evening in order to properly label all blocks I create.

My Favourite Place in Paris

I had the priviledge of visiting Paris twice (Dec 2006 and Nov 2007). Both times I visited Shakespeare and Company Bookstore. The first time, I totally stumbled on it by accident while walking through the streets of Paris, it was late and the lighting was perfect, I regret not taking a photo, but the image is definitely ingrained in my memory. I instantly felt a connection and knew I would return – not knowing that I would once again travel to Paris the following year. In 2007, I made a point to revisit and it was well worth it… I bought ‘A moveable feast’ by Ernest Hemingway which is a posthumous memoir about his life in Paris, a necessary read if you have been to Paris (or just love Hemingway). Shakespeare and Company is actually featured in the book as Hemingway used it as his library while he lived in Paris in the 1920’s as a struggling writer.

You can smell the rich history when you walk into Shakespeare and Company, and knowing that great authors have been there and spent hours just perusing makes you feel that you are among greatness…

 ”If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” Hemingway to a friend in 1950

 

 

a-block-a-week

I have decided on a little project for myself. ‘a-block-a-week’ – I intent to knit a block a week until I have a decent sized throw. In these blocks I would like to practice techniques I have learned and experiment with different wool. I will publish my block every Monday.

One Rule: Each block must tell a story…