whale and etsy problems!

I finally saw my first whale, off Wanda Beach at Cronulla on Saturday.
Somehow, I've managed to miss them all these years though it seems they form a traffic jam along the East coast these days, cruising up and back at different times of the year.
Just a reminder of what an amazing city Sydney is.

Oh and just a note, I am locked out of Etsy because they are moving their server or somesuch, I don't think I'm alone in this and I'm hoping that it will be resolved soon - I'm having withdrawals already!

Printsy!

I've recently become a fully fledged member of Printsy, an Etsy team dedicated to printmaking and printmakers. There are some amaaaaazing people in the group and I am very proud to be counted amongst its members.
Printsy has a blog featuring great interviews with Prinsty members and a Flickr group showing some of the wonderful work being made by Prinsters. They discuss technique and inspiration and show their work and method. Printsy members have also been making some wonderful Etsy Treasuries of Printsy art. I happily happened across this new one made by urbanbird tonight. A lovely surprise to see my Ruby Slippers in such fantastic company.
Here is another great Printsy treasury, this one made the front page. I love the colours and it shows the great depth of talent in this group.

wrap with love

I'm not a great knitter but last year I got all enthused and knitted three hats and four scarves! Quite an achievement for me. I really got addicted to the meditative routine of knitting.
This winter I haven't really got the bug yet but with lots of wool and needles from last year's enthusiasm I thought I'd turn my hand to a project I've been hearing about for a few years, called Wrap With Love. This is an Australian initiative as far as I know, I'm sure other similar schemes exist in other countries. People volunteer knitted squares which are sewn together to make blankets for people in need.


As it says on the Wrap With Love site - "There are millions of people in the world suffering extreme cold. In 1982 Wrap with Love began with the idea to help as many people as possible by providing warm Wraps to ward off hypothermia."
From 1992 when it started to last year, 2007 they have distributed 157046 wraps!
The deadline this year is August 1 when volunteers collect and sew together all the squares. If you want to make your own squares, here is the page which shows instructions.
I am aiming to make at least four, a drop in the bucket, but with enough drops it all adds up. Next year I will start earlier.