i am writing this post with a lapful of sleeping infant 

fulfilling my grandmotherly duties because

my soft-hearted Eldest performed a rescue at the local ag show yesterday

[that's a 'fair', for North American readers]

but as she's working interstate this week

and can't possibly get the documents required when transporting livestock

i have volunteered to mind the baby

i don't know why the picture is upside down

but

you can see how charming she is

i'm also very proud because my son-in-law

came first in his class of the Speed Shearing

and was also awarded a trophy for Best Butt on the Board

...yes, dear reader, there is such a thing.

all the shearers line up with their backs to the audience

and take a bow.

Rangi's posterior was judged the prettiest.

but enough giggling, back to the matter at hand.

if you recall

we had left the pouch and stone

bundled and redyed

hanging to dry

with a stone inside to keep the shape

the straps turned out just as i had hoped

and the pouch was quite sweet

[seen here with magnifying glass on an extra strap]

but clearly there was still room for improvement

so i gathered up a few useful bits

and a small bead tray

[my cats love me for buying these special beading trays]

and began to play

here's a closer view

and here's the key to all the bits

and where they are from

i'm not entirely sure i have quite finished

it is such a joy to stitch on felt

which has good body

and in which loose ends can be so nicely hidden

it is also a very good sign

when i get excited by new teaching ideas

and can't put them down myself

hmm

amulets and landskins 

could go rather well together too

and now i'd better prepare a bottle for the baby.

it was quite cold and limp yesterday

and had to sit on its great-grandmother's lap for some  

Reiki

and bonding

now it has a voracious appetite.

+  +  +

in case you've only just joined us
the rest of the story can be found here

part one
part two

bear with me

the title will make sense quite soon

i love Beignets but having given up wheat last year

[for very good reasons and with a remarkable improvement in my health as a result]

i haven't indulged in these delicacies for ages

yesterday's experiments with spelt and a twist on my little [Latvian] grandmother's recipe for deep-fried goodness on the occasion of the [more or less] 125th birthday of my [German] great-grandmother's tiny frying cauldron 

resulted in some damn fine "fusion" Beignets

that disappeared with [as Winnie the Pooh's friend Rabbit would say] "Astonishing Rapidity"

washed down with coffee of course

which brings me to a fusion of a different kind.

after Roz Hawker and i met at Waiuku in 2010 we parted with friendly wishes on either side

but no huge plans

then

a bit later that year

Roz bravely invited me to come and teach in her lovely garden at Bunya

the pix above are of my notes for that class

[stitched, embellished with cloth and some metal from a tealightshell]

and a little while after that

we went on a trip into the wilds together [along with a friend from over the rainbow]

which has led to other roadtrips

in Oz, in New Zealand and even on the east coast of the USA

roadtrips offer lots of time for talking

and musing 

and coming up with ideas.

here's one we think is really good.

we're going to offer a co-taught class for wayfarers + wanderers 

firstly in Roz's garden and then a week or so later

in a green and gorgeous hideaway in north Queensland

please click on the mark  to read her side of the story  +

Roz is going to handle the bookings for this one

[ i'll be very happy to pass on email enquiries ]

and

you never know

there may be a Beignet or two

Bunya is where the first retreat will be held

and Beads? you may want to bring a few.