More ring pulls and haircut-reducing IQ

Our caravan is currently parked here:

Travel-related

The abbreviation ‘W.A.’ doesn’t just note the state of Australia, it also notes its weather condition.  Windy Always.  It can be very, very windy; very windy; or windy.  Always.  Which certainly aids in cooling you down during the hot weather and keeps the flies at bay.  Caravan trumps tent though!

Carnarvon, W.A.

This township is just over 900kms north of Perth on the coast.  With the Indian ocean’s vast expanse on its doorstep there’s an abundance of fresh seafood in this little township of 4,500 permanent residents (2011 census).  It also lies beside the Gascoyne river, which for most of the year, looks like a very large, dry, sandy river bed – but belies the enormous amount of water beneath it.  The Gascoyne enables this area to produce most of Perth’s winter vegetables, and has large banana and tomato plantations.  A destination for many a backpacker in the winter months due to the amount of seasonal work, climate and things to see and do.  It also has 2 of my favourite cafes – The Galleon and One Mile Jetty.

1 mile jetty cafe, a must to visit

Bridge crossing the often dry riverbed of the Gascoyne

Panoramic view of Carnarvon – a lovely place to stay

Space & technology museum

This wonderful attraction is run entirely by volunteers.  It’s dish, though no longer in use, assisted in beaming images back from the Moon Landing, and is well worth setting aside a few hours to have a look at and marvel at the primitive technology that (apparently..!) got man onto our lunar satellite.

Control panels … looks rather archaic

It’s a pretty grainy picture – apparently it’s true!

How the Australian media captured the event

… until the next guy …

The Dish – no longer working but can be seen from many kms away

Blow holes

About 70kms north are the ‘blow holes’, roaring like a steam train and jetting water up to 20 meters.  There’s also a lovely shallow bay to swim and snorkel in before heading up to the lighthouse for a great view over the area.

Amazing to hear and see

Many a fisherman and the occassional tourist have met their demise here

Blowholes, an easy day trip north of Carnarvon

IQ-reducing haircut

My hair’s been growing like crazy lately, so thought I’d give it a cut.  Husband, who just happened to be passing by at the time I was getting the embroidery/hair scissors out, said “How about I cut it for you”.  “OK”, I foolishly replied.  This judgemental mistake meant it took about 2.5 minutes to lose approximately two thirds of my IQ.  Meaning, the bowl-like fringe he quickly and concisely gave me – made me look like a girlfriend to one of the Dumb & Dumber guys.  Luckily most of my friends and relatives are on the other side of the country and cannot see the horrendousness of it.  I tried to fix it and, well, now I permanently wear a hat..

Craft-related

Ring pull messenger handbag

Luckily you don’t need to be good looken to craft a ring pull handbag – woo hooo!!  Nearly 1000 ring pulls were single crocheted together and finally here it is!  Total cost about $10, including the $2 leather belt from a charity shop I used as the bag’s gusset (the strap is from another hand bag).  It may have taken a few months to gather the ring pulls and another month to make – but I’m pretty chuffed with the result.

Hole drilling -do it with a Dremel

Reducing leather bulk for 90 degree turn

1st panel attached to gusset

Leather lacing skillls are helpful

Loop added for hardware attachment

Coloured ring pulls are as rare as hens teeth – especially red ones!

Warning: wearing in the sunlight will cause onlookers reflective blindness..

Happy I actually finished a project – yay!!

Knitted shawl

I’m pretty sure I hold the title of Procrastinating Queen of the Uniburse.  Due to this enormous burden I try not to start any large crafty projects, lest they end up half finished, 2 years later, in the rubbish bin.  Tentatively I approached this free Ravelry pattern by the talented Justyna Lorkowska , but needn’t have worried as it had just the right balance of interest and knitting speed to satisfy even my (age-inflicted!) Attention Deficit Disorder.

Each edge on this triangular shawl (knitted with 100gr sock yarn) is different – and it’s easy to remember the pattern repeats.  Yay!!

Each edge of the shawl is different

.. and it’s not complicated to remember!

Knitted Christmas tree

I also thought I’d knit another Christmas tree, as you do when it’s getting towards the pointy end of the year.  This pattern was adapted from one that Bottheka kindly posted on Ravelry a couple of years ago.  It’s the only one I’ve found that can be knitted to whatever length, in whatever gauge – for whatever tree size the knitter desires.  Added bonus – can be put up and taken down and stashed in the small space of a caravan.  [Note wonky coffee pod star adorning the top – thanks Les and Norma!]

2 pieces of card and a long bit of knitting

Ta daahh – centrepiece to the Chrissie lunch table!

Wrap knitting around assembled card tree

Carnarvon Crafters

If any visitor to Carnarvon needs a crafty pick-me-up – then a meeting with this group is a must!  For a small fee you will be in the company of some lovely like-minded ladies who are more than willing to share their crafting knowledge, from hyperbolic crochet and knitted hump back whales to a scarf knitted from 4,500 to 5,000 tea bag strings!  Be sure to be in the Carnarvon area around mid-2018 when the whole of down town Carnarvon will be kitted out in their aquatic themed yarn creations!

Knitted hump back whale and other sea creatures

Just some of the crafting ladies of Carnarvon

Scarf knitted from tea bag strings – it’s super soft!

Example of some paper craftiness

Other stuff

You may be interested in these links – if you have a few hours up your sleeve ..

Parallelfunk – felting – done really, really well (German)

Howsweeteats – cooking – the most DELICIOUS food (no calorie counters in sight).  OMG.

Thisiscolossal – art/craft/design – where you go to see totally awesome stuff.  Check out their shop [note to my siblings:  feel free to spend lots of money on me here .. if you love me ..!!]

Have a totally awesome festive season,

Cath