The Passing Of Light

Our friend Rae passed away last night, peacefully, with her boys and husband at her side.
Thanks for the comments which I am passing along to Frank, Blair, Tarin and Perry. As soon as arrangements are made, I will post here. I know there are many more people around Australia who will keenly feel the loss and miss Rae's company and "awesomeness" ( eldest daughter' s description) Apt description I think. I couldn't find a better word.

Sad News

I have sad news to impart. My friend and partner Rae is in the final stages of lung cancer. It has been a tough battle since diagnosis a few short months ago. The illness has been rapid and aggressive leaving Rae little time to let people from the textile world know. She is been cared for at Warringal Private Hospital, Melbourne but anyone who wishes to send cards can do so via Warringal or my address. Po Box 277, Warrandyte, Melbourne.3113.
I will update this blog as her condition as needed.
Rae's husband Frank, and children Perry and Blair are with her daily, Tarin is coming back from a working holiday in Canada. Rae is receiving wonderful care from her oncologist Dr White and the nursing staff at the hospital. She is been kept comfortable at all times and although sad, she is, of course,  taking it with her characteric fortitude and resilience.
I'm guessing that this post probably explains my lack of previous posts for the last few months, Rae was always the engine behind our partnership not to mention my closest friend and surrogate nan to my girls.
I know for sure Rae would encourage all of her friends and acquaintances to make the most of now, as she has, don't wait for sometime in the future to live the dream. Take the trip, go out for lunch, make that call, make time for those you love, be supportive and encouraging to your friends and family and answer the question "should I" with HELL YES!

Circa Oct. 1939: HMAS BERYL II [ex-HMS BERYL], minesweeper for rent, 111 pounds 12 shillings a month - RAN.

Circa Oct. 1939: HMAS BERYL II [ex-HMS BERYL], minesweeper for rent, 111 pounds 12 shillings a month - RAN., originally uploaded by Kookaburra2011.

Just a piece of trivia today. This is the minesweeper my grandfather Stuart Ganley served on during the second world war. Minesweepers needed a wooden hull so they wouldn't set the mines off that bobbed around just under the surface. Their job was to keep the sea lanes open and free of mines so troop transports, aid and the injured could be ferried back and forth between ports. HMAS Beryl doesn't look like it could withstand a summer swell- but it did, bringing Pa back home to his family in one piece at wars end.

And finally!

Arriving today via the post to The Thread Studio, Dale's new colourway Marrakesh. This was inspired by a photo of spices in a Morrocan spice market.

Penelopeslinenloft

Really pleased with how this piece turned out. This is antique handloomed hemp I purchased from Penelopeslinenloft on etsy. Oh, and the cute bit is it's french.
Iron was the mordant and it was simmered over a camp fire. I have no idea which Eucalyptus leaves they were. I try to pickup as silver hued as possible.

The Cackling Witch

Brianna really likes her music teacher Celeste. She wanted to make something for her birthday so we came up with this. I dyed the silk ciffon scarf with KraftKolour's citrus colour and gave it to Brianna to put rubber bands up and down the length of it to create 'resist' areas. Once that was done, I overdyed it in Wild Raspberry to create the delicious dark fushia colour. Bri says Celeste loved it.


What else have I been up to? Well, Rae is at Halls Gap selling our wares at the annual textile event and so I have been cooking up clothes with the silver leafed eucalyptus we have in Warrandyte. When it's hot, the leaves become more silver and I seem to be able to coax more colour from them. I've put some fabric pieces in the shop today because I have SO MANY ! I didn't relize how much I put in the pots when I'm in the zone.




Also keeping me busy is the small piece I'm stitching at the moment out of the scraps from Venice I sent to TheThreadStudio. I'll post those results hopefully this week.

Venice Rubbing

Using one of Dale's polymer stamps, I have made a rubbing using the silver sennelier oil pastel. I'll wait for the oil to evaporate before ironing and then use this as a base for my pendant.

Eucalyptus dyed silk, simmered gently in a pot over a camp fire with rusty iron.


A linen blouse, same method, different eucalyptus.


A cardy off to keep Marina warm in Russia. ( Well not that warm- it's cotton)


And a silk slip.