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Let's go racing

Take a Closer Look

Knit & Fight the Black Dog

This is one of the most difficult posts i think i will ever make but i am at a place and a time where i am ready to talk about it.

Some of you who are closer to me may already know that i have a history of depression, i don't keep is a secret, i just don't use it as a conversation starter :)

About 6 months ago things in my life started to go really down hill, i couldn't sleep but i was exhausted, i couldn't concerntrate on anything for more than 10 minutes at a time, i was very short tempered with my kids and i was worse with my husband, Glenn. I would cry over spilt milk - a dark blanket began to envelope me, it was black and it was heavy and i was lost and i thought it would be better off if it was over.

Always a keen knitting blog surfer, i found a blog by the delightful Meg http://PierreTheYarnSnob.blogspot.com where she speaks openly and honestly about her battle with depression, i saw alot of myself in what she wrote and i loved her tag "knit and fight the black dog" it hit a cord with me - the only things i could concerntrate on were my knitting and spinning they truly saved me. Another things that helped me was Ravelry and the amazing women i am friends with particulary the Aussie MCN Mummies Group even tho i didn't discuss my problems with them, their constant chatter and support was wonderful, i could always drop in and have a giggle.

Another person that i have shared this time with and i am sure she won't mind me saying is Courtney, she has been my touchstone anytime i am down we netchat and i feel so much better.
I love you Courts xxx

So about 6 weeks ago i spoke to a GP and we started a course of Anti-depressants after 2 weeks of feeling nauseous, tired and having the shakes things physically got better, and in the last 2 weeks things are getting better in every corner of my life. I now have a routine this has help me amazingly to achieve the things i set out to do each day.

I will write more as i feel the need and when the time feels right to discuss things deeper.

Thank You for reading and most of all for understanding.
Lisa

Work, Knitting, Stress, Spinning, Beauty and Friends

What a week it's had it all.

Last Sunday i spent the afternoon with the Young Textile and Fibre Group which is run by the local Embroidery Guild. The group is aged between 8 and 14 and they are learning to Knit and Felt a small handbag, there were some amazing and creative little bags going on, some deviated somewhat from the pattern that was provided but how can you help dropping and picking up stitches when your giggling and have a great time !!! I did a little presentation on the different types of fibre and showed them how wool comes from a sheep, is processed/carded and spun, we passed around samples and felt the differance between wool and silk and bamboo and angora and mohair they LOVED it, it was a very rewarding afternoon.

WORK - A full on week at work and i am releived to say it's Friday. And that's all i have to say about that.

I have been knitting like a crazy lady on my secret project that is due to be revealed on the 16th of July.

This week also bought to me a moment that i thought would be far off into the future. On Thursday i was blessed enough to have lunch and share the secrets of my LYS with the amazing, beautiful, talented, loving and passionate [Courtney](http://ravenscauldron.blogspot.com/). There are no words to explain what a wonderful experience this was, clearly the world meant for us to be friends, she has touched my life in a very positive way and i will be forever grateful.

Tonight i am settling down to some more knitting and a nice pot of tea.

And in a little bit of self promotion Knot Your Nanna's Knits has having a 15% off sale from 8pm tonight 3/7/09 til 8pm on Sunday 5/7/09 - check it out :)

Sunday Morning

Breakfast at the McPhee's

Hot tea and Pancakes with Mayple Syrup, Bananas and Fresh Cream

Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

How darling are these beautiful hand made aprons :)

Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

it's been a while

So many things have been going on in my little world since i last blogged.

some of the most significant include WWKIP day, i hosted the Grafton event at Holly'z cafe we had a wonderful day and enjoyed great company and great coffee. about 30 people attended throughout the day.

I am curently working on my outfit for the July Race carnival, i am knitting a cloche using Apple Green Malabrigo and Deep earth Woolganics, the i am going to start on a dress as soon as i get the hat finished.

I have also got back into my spinning with 2 FO's this week.

I have also been dyeing up a storm - some fibre to spin for myself and some silkmerino for the gorgeous Miss Courtney




On a side note i love how the relection of the clouds is captured in that photo above :)

the many expressions of my littlies

shop update

new stock at Knot your nannas knits :)

Dye day and FO's

Well with all the wet weather we have been having and being housebound for 3 days i have fired up the dye pots for a June 1 update, stock is now previewing at Knot Your Nanna's Knits on Yarn Collective.

and FO - a Jumper for Miss Lilli, actions shots on a cranky 3 year old yeilds photos like this one:(

oh well at least she's wearing it...right??

got water....we do

the pictures say it all

rain rain go away....

The current view from my craft room ...........wet :(

A little bit of sewing

I whipped up this little dolly for miss Lilli on Monday morning, she adores her, but matter of factly pointed out to me that she has no arms or legs so how can she "do stuff" :)

What's inside the bag....

Inspired by Courtney's inside my handbag post i thought i would let a little of my soul show, after all a woman's life is in her handbag.

Then i realised the last place i went was stitch and bitch, when i go there i take my "basket" rather than my "bag" coz i can get more stuff in it. Now there really isn't much soul bareing here because suprise, suprise - it's all fibre related :)

My beautiful basket which Husbeast bought for me at the Macadamia Castle (near Byron Bay)

Yes i am carrying easter eggs around - still, these were from my little bro.

Mmmmmmm..... fibre...........(FO's and FIP (fibre in process)

My drop spindle - with some delicious Ixchel Bunny Angorino on it

and finally my keys and purse - i never leave the house with out either of these - love my little Yoda keyring :)

in the bell jar........

After a week of ups and downs to arrive home on a friday arvo and find this piece of beauty in my mail box made me smile. It is from the beautiful Sophie Isobel Designs - you can find more of here beauty here (http://sophieisobeldesigns.etsy.com)

The Show entries (finally)

So as you all know i entered several items in the Grafton Show Handicrafts Section - and guess what - i won :)

First in HandKnitting any article for a child - based on Tikki's Milo Vest using the Rainbow Dress pattern i made a Vest for Jarvis using some cheap and nasty tweed acrylic from Lincraft

First Prize in Hand Spinning - Super wash Merino which i recieved in a swap from Molly (madradish) . Chain (navajo) Plied.

Second Prize handspinning - super coils - bracken ridge from EGMTK

The famed lamby pants - only a highly commended but enetirely my own stupid fault why because i forgot to weave in 1 end :(

The infamous unwoven end :(

Grafton Show 2009

The Grafton Show through the eyes of my children and Lilli's friend Jamaica :)

TGIF

I have had a huge week and it's really getting me down, so glad it's the weekend and i am looking forward to Sunday - i bought pancake mix - so if Glenn and the kids don't make me any i can make my own :)

Next week is shaping up to be even bigger - it's my huge annual audit at work - it's basically the reason i exist at work so it;s a big deal. I am hoping for a clear report with no non-conformances but we will see. Glenn is off to his TAFE block next week to so it will be rush rush rush till wednesday.

I have been doing some spinning and some dying i'll try to get some pics up over the weekend :)

we are off the the Grafton Show tomorrow night - can't wait to see if my lamby pants win a prize !!!!

happy weekend,
peace, Lisa

Another FO

A feather and fan cowl

Pattern: Improvised

Yarn: My Handspun - Chain Plied Mustards and Blues

Made For: Me