Tarot Blog Hop Litha 2015: Star Light Star Bright

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Our gracious hostess this time is Alison Cross, currently co-Chair of TABI; you are probably more familiar with her in her Good Twin incarnation rather than the version that came up with this creative topic for the 2015 Litha Blog Hop ...


You will find a list of the Major Arcana cards below, please pop your name next to the card that you want to write about.... and write about your chosen card! That's all there is to it! But, before you jump in and pick your favourite card... you might want to set yourself a bit of a challenge.

You could pick a card because:

• You love it
• You loathe it
• You think that it's a tricky blighter!
• You can write a poem about it
• Your favourite artwork in the whole Tarot world is about one of these cards.
• You've painted your own version – share it!
• You can show us a video of your own tap-dancing routine inspired by the card :)
• You have designed a spread based on this card's energies
• You want to share your own way to interpret this card etc etc

 Made your decision? Select your card! 


 
Well, of course I have chosen XVII The Star; astrologically associated with Aquarius, my sun sign, I have always had a soft spot for it. I love its meanings, I love its symbolism, I love the
range and variety of depictions:

Phantomwise Tarot

Hudes Tarot

Such a strong sense of serenity and peace; plenty of life-giving water, a woman alone but not lonely, a comforting blanket of darkness ...

Hanson-Roberts Tarot

Victorian Romantic Tarot

Quiet optimism, hope, renewal, healing - what's not to like about this card ? Titch once told me one of the qualities that I have that he admires the most is my resilience, a word I think encapsulates those meanings.

Of course, you'll recognize my most favoritest Star:

Starlight Arcana

I am involved in organizing the 10th Anniversary TABI Conference, approaching soon, so  browsing the many versions of XVII The Star has calmed me, and I am refueled with peace and quiet - now I can direct you forward to XVII The Moon, or back to XVI The Tower ...


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FO Friday 25/15: The End of Stripes

Housewives Tarot

In amongst the electrical appliance disasters, Cub events, cricket matches, committee meetings, the approach of the 10th Anniversary TABI Conference and domestic drudgery goddessery I completed a great little baby jacket, but forgot to share it with you.

I found the pattern when I was browsing through my knitting magazines (I don't buy them often, but over time they do still amass) in Woman's Weekly Knitting & Crochet Special Jan.2011; it actually is a Sublime pattern called 'Little Bertie' - and it was the colors that caught my eye:

Yes, it does say the yarn should be Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK. I know, there are no limits to the crazy, right ? It says it is machine washable, but we need things that a new mum does not have to think twice about, let alone the cost: even the smallest size will be approx.£16/$25. Our Snowflake will be just as Special in spite of wearing ordinary yarn. So here is my version, using remnants from my yarn basket:

Of course, I like mine more. The shawl collar variation was in the magazine. I loved this pattern: loved the design, the colors, the stripes, and it was an error-free quick knit.

But I won't be making it again, because - all. the. endz. You can't really carry the colors up the side because 4 colors make for a sizeable lump in the seams, and it was a real pain to have to weave in all those millions of ends ...

Pop 'FO Friday' into Google and see what happens ...

SAL Wednesday 24/15: It Never Rains ...

Old English Tarot

... but it pours. Let me share with you the list of things that have broken in the last week:

1. Mini Diva's laptop charger. For some who-knows-what reason, they required us to also drop off her laptop for the technicians to look at.

2. Mini Diva's behavior. She hits new pubertal lows. As a result Destructo Boy wants to move out. I do too, but I don't say so out loud.

3. The fridge section of the fridge-freezer that came with the house. I phone the landlady who tells me it's nothing to do with her. I book a repair man for it.

4. The shower. Water comes out fine, but at Arctic temperatures. Landlady agrees to send a repair man. Repair man replaces it.

5. Washing machine packs up. We fix this ourselves - a blocked filter and drain hose. Next time we get a short-haired dog that doesn't moult.

6. Freezer section of fridge-freezer packs up. Oh well, at least we've already got a call in for the repair man. Repair man comes and writes off fridge-freezer, a manufacturing fault, reckons it is about 4 to 7 years old. I use Titch's credit card to buy a new fridge-freezer for next day delivery. Thank you, Titch and thank you AO.com.

We have not yet decided what to do about the old fridge-freezer that the landlady wanted nothing to do with although it's hers. It's on the inventory. As a Zanussi when it is a Hotpoint. If you have advice about this, please share in the comments section.

After all this plus normal chores, I decide to reward myself for my ace survival skillz by finally getting out the sewing machine Titch bought me last year as an early Xmas present when it was on sale in May. I plug it in, I RTFM, I switch it on, I do some straight stitching. I turn the stitch selector dial - and it comes off in my hand, there's a crack in the part that grips the spindle.

I could have wept. And maybe I hid my face in the airing cupboard and did.

So this is what I did after lunch yesterday:

That is the pattern page for Sweet Dreams from The Best of Terry Kimbrough Baby Afghans, a 5.5mm hook, a new ball of King Cole Comfort Baby DK in pale yellow, a COLD gin and tonic, and a handsome gorgeous Sebastian. Note the weather - there's a reason I live here, the driest sunniest part of the British Isles.

If you have made it this far, you too have ace survival skillz, and I salute you. Pop off to Life & Yarn for people with unbroken things ...

FO Friday 24/15: Camel Baby Complete

Whimsical Tarot

We've had some almost seasonal weather this week, so I have spent more time outside with my pots on the patio with lots and lots of washing on the line; of course, it only takes a warm patch for both the shower and the fridge to break down, and Mini Diva's laptop (new at Christmas) is headed back to the shop this weekend too - but if trouble comes in threes, that should be us done, for now.

Like this cute little vintage 4ply baby cardigan (neat segue, huh) :

Somewhere along the line I made an error with measurements, as there are supposed to be 5 buttons but I only had room for four - and nice little unusual buttons they are too. This is a shade called 'Camel', of Sirdar Country Style 4ply - it felt a little scritchy at first (I'm guessing the wool content), but after a wash & fabric conditioner, it gained softness and a bit of bloom.

The color is true in the 1st photo ... but this one shows the detail of the cable pattern, separated with moss stitch rather than boring old purl, and the decorative detail of the raglan sleeves. Altogether a dinky and rather pretty little cardigan, I think: Robin 1139, for Robin Bri-Nylon Supercrimp 4ply.

Today it is FO Friday and Friday Finishes which, when Googled, will give you lots of pretty things to look at.

SAL Wednesday 23/15: Green Bumps

Deviant Moon Tarot

No, I haven't been doing anything as exotic as learning to belly-dance. Just juggling all the kids' stuff plus home things plus niggly admin things that suck up way more time than they should. I wonder how on earth did I fit everything in when I was working outside the home ?  Of course, Titch was home everyday - the plus of agency work over tramping - so things didn't fall just to me to do. Rather than getting into a rant about the thankless unpaid drudgery that falls to my lot nowadays, instead let's show you the progress on the last of the 4 baby cardigans I'm making:

The pattern is Sirdar Snuggly DK 3946, but I am using 3 balls of Sirdar Tiny Tots in the colorway 987. imaginatively christened 'green': that color seems to be discontinued, but I am glad that 'Pooping Purple' was merely my eyes playing tricks on me. Although it's a blend of acrylic/polyester, it has somewhat of a cotton-y feel; I would prefer it plain without the slubs, I think - I think this was some of my sister's stash. 

Anyway, it was knitting up nice and quickly until having to DO things like take people to school, pick them up from Cubs, go to Parents' Evening (Mini Diva is perfect, apparently, except for Drama - I can't figure out how that can be when she is such an expert in it at home), go to cricket training, do the ironing, do to Share Day ... you get the idea. I thought I was supposed to regain my time as the kids grew older, but I'm not really seeing that yet.

This afternoon, I only have to vacuum, and then my time is my own for a couple of hours, so I'll just recommend that you pop over to Life&Yarn, while I get a move on so I can snatch some knitting time ...

FO Friday 23/15: Ruffles

Spiral Tarot

                          









      
So I'm sitting here with the light on as the thunderstorm and intense downpour has rendered it as dark as a bat's cave, wondering about the unseasonal weather - until this week, low temperatures, last week there were gales ... general weirdness.

Luckily for you and me, I took photos of the Ruffles & Stripes baby blanket ages ago:

It's pretty large,  about 43'' by 35'' (110cm x 90cm) and I used most of 6 balls of King Cole Baby Comfort DK, 2 each of White, Pebble and Mink  with a 5.0mm hook. The pattern was another delight from 'The Best of Terry Kimbrough Baby Afghans' . I am pretty chuffed with it, and will shortly be starting another pattern from the same book.

While I rest comfortably on my laurels, by popping FO Friday into Google you will find much more loveliness ....