This little girl............

Mia turned 4 on the 3rd of March.

Her special present was "Sally", made by Jenny from www.littlejennywren.blogspot.com

Sally is a beautifully made doll with exquisitely made little clothes. If you look close you can see the gorgeous little cable and bobble pattern on her jumper.

This has prompted more requests from Mia for matching clothing, as some of Sally's clothing has been made from fabrics I have used in making Mia's clothing.

I love that Mia is happy to wear whatever I make, and the majority of her wardrobe is made by myself, and most of her knitwear made by my mum.

I remember a beautiful, red corduroy pinafore with strawberries transfered on the front brace made by mum. Also a coat, not sure if it was patchworked or not but it had lots and lots of colours. Always reminds me of the story pf Joseph and his coat of many colours.

But what sticks in my memory the most was a fairisle jumper knit for me when I was 12. Obviously outgrown it now, but I remember the undyed nature of the wool and the faint lanolin smell.

# 2

A glutton for punishment and an addictive personality have collided and against my better judgement, I have begun Ishbel # 2.

But by God this yarn is divine to knit, MANOS del URUGUAY 30% silk, 70% extra fine merino. Kettle Dyed, colour 3043 Juniper.

It is fluid like in its ability, as it glides from needle to needle. Surprisingly flexible, and glistens and sparkles in the sun light. The silk has a disitinctive sheen, but not overpowering the wool.

A perfect combination.

Ishbel

This provided me with hours of enjoyment and frustration. A delightful pattern, beautifully written and easy to follow.

But knitting when tired, mistakes occur. When said mistakes are realised, words of such a nature that a coal miner would blush if heard, spew out of my mouth.

I have knit Ishbel for Camilla, my beautiful, precious heart, who is now settled and thoroughly enjoying her new school "Wilderness" in Adelaide as a boarder.

Ishbel was knitted using Jamieson's Double Knitting in colour Mooskit, just shy of 4 skeins used.
Quite a course yarn, 100% Pure Shetland Wool. Grown and spun on the Shetland Isles.

The fear of attempting something new is gone, the lessons learnt are many and the self satisfaction I have is great.

Next Ishbel, will be in the larger size, I'm thinking cashmere..............

Nothing but a Child

Once upon a time in a far off land
Wise men saw a sign and set out across the sand
Songs of praise to sing, they travelled day and night
And precious gifts to bring, guided by the light

They chased a brand new star, ever towards the west
Across the mountains far, but when they came to rest
They scarce believed their eyes, they'd come so many miles
And this miracle they prized was nothing but a child

And nothing but a child could wash those tears away
Or guide a weary world into the light of day
And nothing but a child could help erase those miles
So once again we can all be children for a while

Now all around the world, in every little town
Every day is heard a precious little sound
And every mother kind and every father proud
Looks down in awes to find another chance allowed

And nothing but a child could wash those tears away
Or guide a weary world into the light of day
And nothing but a child could help erase those miles
So once again we can all be children for a while

Nothing but a little baby
Nothing but a child

-Steve Earle-

Third light of Advent

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The third light of Advent is the light of beasts.

Animals of farm, field, forest, air and sea.

All await the birth in the greatest and in least.

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Tonight we light three candles.

Advent

A new book rests on our bedside table (we co - sleep), it is The Story of the Root Children by Sibylle von Olfers.

I am surprised by how much this book is being requested to be read before bedtime, there is some element in it that Mia relates to.

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"The second light of Advent is the light of plants.

Roots, stem, leaf, flower and fruit by whom we live and grow." Rudolph Steiner

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Today we are spending the day creating a new theme for our nature table, to follow on with Advent "light of plants".

With help, Mia will light the candles after dinner.

Heaven on Earth

The following was taken from the introduction to Heaven on Earth, written by Sharifa Oppenheimer.

"OUR CHILDREN ARE, in the words of Kahlil Gibran, the gift of Life's longing for Itself. They

run toward Life, arms open, and Life loves Itself through their small bodies. Pressing

themselves into sand, sifting dirt, watching an inchworm measure a branch, reaching toward the

black cat, who evades, then looks at them through inscrutable green eyes.... it is their biological

imperative to reach toward Life, and we, their caregivers, must structure the way in which Life

reaches back, the way they are touched in return.

They need to be touched by grass, flowers, sunshine, birdsong. They need a pile of dirt, and

earthworms, clay for mud pies and dirt balls for target practice. They need sticks and bare feet,

tubbed toes too. They need songs, stories, paints, costumes. And games that go on without end.

These children are Life reaching out to discover Itself. What they touch must be vibrantly

alive, that in growing they mey learn to respect, to nurture, to cherish and protect. This is our

task ; it is urgent they thrive.

They are Hope itself, here, now, forever. "




Very powerful words.