Have Hook, Can Crotchet

This post has the potential to be a bit long and rambling so apologies in advance to those readers who have short attention spans!

Exhibit A

I've been playing around with a new centrepiece for our Dining Room table. That would be Exhibit A. It is full of things that make me smile: the candle holder was a gift from a favourite pupil as were the poppies; the dish is a souvenir from MoMA and a magical Christmas in New York with a friend who has since passed away. They are all on a d'oyley which was stitched by my Mum and edged by my Nin. It was part of Mum's Glory Box and is one of a set of 3. Mum gave it to me when I moved out of home. I keep walking past it and straightening and touching cause it has given me great joy.

Exhibit B. Image: Rachael Zelensky

Now, please examine Exhibit B which is the inspiration for Exhibit A. I was having a peek at la maison sur la colline which is a soothing, tasteful place to visit and I was very taken with Rachael's post. She helpfully let me know where to buy the chocolate d'oyleys and also the jug which you will note is present in Exhibits A and B. Thanks Rach, very happy with the shopping and the new centrepiece. Could you work on something to gussy up the bathroom next, please?

Exhibit C

Now, may I draw your attention to Exhibit C which is a table runner that I inherited from my Nin. Embroidery is something I've always loved to do and when the Aunties were tidying up Nin's crafting, they put this aside for me to finish and keep. I finished it not so long ago and it is now ready to be edged and this is the point of this post. I can crotchet a chunky woolen blanket without too many dramas but the fine Perle Cotton sort of work that is needed for this treasure is completely beyond my skill level. So, kind bloggy folk. If this is your forte and you are happy to take on a new project, please let me know. I'd really like to try Exhibit A on a completed Exhibit C. I await your reply with bated breath and the theme from Law & Order running through my head!

Thought for Thursday

Say the words - they may mean more to someone than you'll ever know.

Flavia

Too true! It's always nice to receive warm fuzzies. I'd like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU for reading and commenting and letting me know you are there. It's a lovely world in blog land and all the nicer because you are in it! Hope you have a warm fuzzy kind of day and I'll be popping around to say some of my words of my own, tomorrow.

Wonderland and Heaven

Some of our mask making playthings.

Last Friday the little Buttons and I took a trip to Ipswich to put some new stock in Handmade Heaven. We had a lovely time visiting Liesa and checking out her new treasures some of which made their way to Chez Button! If you are heading to Ipswich, take advantage of our Handmade Heaven special - all the Cute as Buttons long sleeve tees are $15 and at that price, it is a great idea to stock up for next winter.

Once we'd sorted out our business, we wandered over to the Ipswich Art Gallery to check out their I wish I lived in Wonderland exhibit. This interactive artwork is by Rose Skinner and is created from toys, candy, coloured sugar and household furniture. It is a riot of colour and is a bit like a real life Spot That book. We looked, touched, laughed, crawled, rolled, hid and talked our way through Wonderland and finished off by making our own pieces of art from feathers, masks, tulle, paddle pop sticks and straws. The Ipswich Art Gallery has an excellent school holiday program. Their Children's Gallery is the first gallery in Australia, dedicated to children, and is a great way to expose the small fry to the joys of creative arts.

Morning Tea Treats

The great outdoors beckons at Button Central so we're taking the opportunity to sit outside and enjoy watching the Button Bikie Gang cruise around the driveway on their bikes and push-alongs. There is a ginormous skip in our driveway which we've been filling with all manner of objects from our garage and yard. While we work, the Button bikers have been careering down the driveway and swerving to miss the skip. It's hungry work and when they stop for a break, they're quite happy to munch on these ANZAC biscuits which are a very tasty Aussie tradition. If you can't use Golden Syrup, honey works just fine!

ANZAC BISCUITS

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup coconut

1 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

125g butter

1 tblspn golden syrup

2 tblspns boiling water

1 tspn bicarb soda

PREHEAT oven to 140C

COMBINE rolled oats, coconut, flour and sugar

COMBINE butter and golden syrup and MELT in microwave

STIR boiling water and bicarb soda in butter mixture

POUR wet ingredients into dry and mix thoroughly

ROLL tablespoons of mixture into balls

PLACE on lined tray and allow a little room for biscuits to spread

FLATTEN biscuits slightly with the back of a fork

BAKE for 30 minutes. (for softer, chewier biscuits remove at 25 minutes)

COOL on tray for 5 minutes then transfer to cooling racks

Thought for Thursday

Wish in one hand, spit in the other and see which one gets full first!

My Nin

So today's thought is not of the genteel, greeting card variety but, it is something I often remind myself and although I am not sure where my Nin heard it, I'd like to give her the credit. The first time I heard it I was completely shocked because I didn't think grandmas were supposed to say things like that! My Nin was my Mum's mum and aside from my Mum, I know no other woman who could come close to being as remarkable as her. She raised 7 outstanding women and wholeheartedly loved squillions of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was 4ft and a bit, and a hard core crafter who always valued and gave handmade gifts. She passed away on Easter Saturday many years ago. Each of her daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren opened a handmade gift, lovingly made by her, that Easter morning.

Nin couldn't abide self pity and if ever she heard someone wishing for straight hair instead of the curls they were born with or for a husband who picked up his jocks, she'd trot out that saying and sort you out quick smart. She was wise on so many levels and of course, now I realise just how wise she really was:

• She would scoot through the housework in the mornings so she could start her craft and watch her shows.
• My Gar (Grandad) always took care of the washing which freed Nin up a bit more to work at her craft
• She believed a cup of tea should always be accompanied with something to eat - preferably after being dunked in the tea
• She was tiny but had an enormous bust on which she could balance a cup of tea and leave her hands free for knitting
• She always wore her good knickers when she went out because you never know when you might fall over and you wouldn't want to be embarrassed
• She never said a bad word about anyone...she'd just stop discussing the person altogether
• She always told us she loved us and left us with a kiss and cuddle
• When you were with her you felt like you were her favourite person in the world
• Family came first
• She didn't wish her life away - she lived it with love and laughter and beauty

I'd really like to be like my Nin when I grow up!