crash and burn...

first up winners! Sorry , its taken me a little while to get back to you but I had a small encounter with a roof rafter... so without further ado
"just because # 2" goes to Bianca over at sadieandlance
and
"just because # 3 is on its way to Robyn at Knit me something good
Thanks again to everyone who left comments and songs...it was fun reading them and now I have a whole new world of music to explore.

Crash and burn indeed......I have been running around for the past few months on high speed, simply because I have given up work and therefore, need to compensate by achieving, achieving ,achieving in other areas. I have become the "can do " girl and it was only a matter of time.
Well,on Sunday, I climbed into the roof storage to get some wool down from my stash (yes, it has overflowed from my office into the roof!) and because I was in such a rush ( no good reason ) I turned suddenly and a rafter jumped straight out of nowhere - I swear it wasn't there before, officer - and hit me in the head. Luckily not quite hard enough to knock me out and consequently down the steps, but hard enough to bring on those lovely little stars.....
Did the first aid thing with pressure and ice pack but still had a lovely egg and a  killer headache for two days as a reminder to slow down NOW.
So I have returned to knitting - knitting is my equivalent of creative yoga. Possibly because I am a tortoise knitter - slow and steady - but I find it more challenging and it requires ( for me) a greater level of concentration and calm than does sewing or crocheting. I am quite speedy at the other two and sometimes, it is more about the outcome than the actual process. I find knitting to be more about the "journey" - how's that for zen?
I have also decided to make this week another "finish it off week" - with all of this frenzy to create, create, I tend to lose steam towards the tail end of some projects. Every now and then, I really need to just go back and tie up the loose ends , so to speak! Here are a few of those loose ends....

This is Ginger- she need pants! I'm really happy with how she is coming along - I wanted to see if I could do a sketch and then make a doll that looked like it. I am just way too lazy tonight to scan the sketch but she's a pretty close match!

This is Maggie, named after my one-of -a -kind-( in the best way of course)  mother in law !
Maggie saw the bird, as it was being made and suggested that it might look lovely on her spare bed! After all, some of those ties came from her cupboard (along with a truckload of other crafting goodies)!
I can feel more of these tie and suit coat birds coming on! A whole flock of them perhaps ( but not this week).

This is "blue" . I haven't decided whare to go with him yet but I want to keep it really simple and minimal. Perhaps just eyes and hair and the suggestion on arms. Lovely just to hug and sqeeze without to much stuff to get in the way.

And just one more little request, this time to all of those in Melbourne ( or anyone who has a good shopping knowledge of Melbourne). I am headed down to Melbourne, this Friday morning  until Sunday afternoon all by myself - how indulgent is that ( and how lovely of Damian and Georgie, our girl wonder to allow me by helping out with the girls). I can't wait - I'm just going to wander and explore at my own pace and stop when I want to stop and go when I want to go. And I will not be carrying the equivalent of three days emergency rations just in case ( really, I do overdo it sometimes!)

So where should I go?
I need suggestions for..
a wool shop
vintage/retro shops
cool funky happening shops ( because i am sooo cool and funky)
a good Japanese restaurant

Is Chapel st still worth the visit?
Is Charmaine's ice creamery still on Brunswick St ? Do they still have chilli- chocolate icecream on the menu?
Do I really need a woolly hat?

Really any suggestions welcome...I'm just a bit looking forward to it, just a little bit.....

But I can't knit on the plane........

Comments

[justine]

chaple st is still worth a visit but make sure you go right to the end (Dandenong RD) for the windsor end. Chapel Bazzar is a one stop shop of all things "cool and retro"!!!!
Charmaines is still on Brunswick St and you gotta go to Smith St if you go out that way as well
Yes you need a wooly hat and gloves and a coat and thick socks........
I hope you are recovering well from you roof mishap. Did you get my postcard? :)
Depends where you are staying for a Japanese restaurant

[Robyn]

Oh, I am so sorry about the rafter. It's good that you're taking it easy. And I can't believe I won. How cool is that! Now, you go and have a good, fun, restful trip to Melbourne.

[Nichola]

Maybe you should come see me!? And Justine too.
Marta's Yarn is always a good place to visit.

[christina]

i am so sorry to hear about your run in with the beam. i hope you are getting better, take your time. looking at that bird was so strange because it is almost the exact same pattern i did a bit ago for a knitted bird. i love how your sewn pattern looks and i am sure it is much faster then knitting up eleven or so little pieces and then sewing them together. the only problem is that knitting for me as you said is a bit zin like and i find it quite relaxing. i have about four more birds worth of yarn to use so i am not giving up yet.

take care and relax as much as you can till you feel better.

[Julie]

LOVE your birds!!! Really lovely!

[Shannon]

A good easy japanesey place is Misuzus in Middle Park...? As for shopping, Id agree with Justine, the 'other' end of Chapel street is good, the other end...quite scary indeed. Unless you are J-Lo crossed with Sienna Miller crossed with Britney (minus the baby but with Kev) And yes, rug up. Its bloody freezing here.

[Bianca]

Ginger is beautiful, even when she is pantsless!

Melbourne is so cold you won't need an ice pack for your head down here. How funny, I was getting all excited and thinking maybe we could meet up - but I am heading to Sydney this weekend.

There's a yummy little authentic Japanese restaurant on DeGreaves lane in the city - (runs between Flinders and Flinders lane in the Swanston to Elizabeth St section) closer to Flinders St, it's tiny!

Chapel St Bazaar is definitely worth a visit, allow yourself some time to spend at the vintage trims/buttons/lace/bits n pieces stall.

Oh and have a hot chocolate at Koko Black if you're passing by!

[Fiona]

I love your Maggie-bird, she's just gorgeous! Hope you have a wonderful time in Melbourne. :D

[Gina]

I'm so in love with that dolly!

[Belinda]

You should try and go to Zakkaya, Nic from little sweet treat featured it on her blog last month and it looks divine. Here's a link to her post http://sweetlittletreat.blogspot.com/2006/05/goodies-for-your-life.html and here is Zakkaya website http://www.zakkaya.com.au/ Have fun I wish it was me!!

[Jo]

Agree on the Chapel St thing. Yes, Windsor end, No, Toorak Rd end. I would just say make sure you do all the little arcades in the city. From Flinders St, up to Bourke St and between Elizabeth and Swanston. Royal Arcade (great kids toy shop called Jasper Junior and a lolly shop called Suga), Block Arcade (a small Douglas & Hope shop), lots of other little ones along the way. Go and explore. It is going to be damn cold here on the weekend too. 12 - 13 degrees. I always love a wander in the National Gallery at Federation Square. Have fun - bring your thermals!