abowerbirdsnest

My name is Rebecca and I am a Project-a-holic.
There I said it. I confess. I will do anything if you tell me it will be a full project. Luckily for me I have several friends who are crazy enough to believe me when I give them the ‘fun project’ spiel.
This year Wendy, Renae and I are doing a Block of the Month (BotM – which Wendy has dubbed ‘bottom’) Granny Square blanket.
Every month we will each pick a granny square we like and make three of each. By the years end we’ll each have 36 squares to arrange and play with to make our blankets.
The best part of the entire project is that we all picked very different wool to work with, Renae has some Carnival Super Soft, Wendy opted for Merino Magic, and I raided my stash and uncovered a large bag of Moda Vera Beetle that I had been saving for a ripple blanket.
But you’re not here to hear the logistics, you want the shiny photos, I know. So here you go. This is what happens when three craft nerds get together and fawn over wool. Be sure to check in at the end of the month to check out our first lot of blocks.

Confess, you’re completely jealous that you’re not here swimming in our wool pile.

Granny Square A Long

by Rebecca Johnson on Friday, January 20, 2012

My name is Rebecca and I am a Project-a-holic. There I said it. I confess. I will do anything if you tell me it will be a full project. Lu...

TI was thoroughly spoiled by my work Secret Santa last year and one of the goodies I found in my stocking was a nice box of tea. I was very excited about this – partly because I love tea, but moreso because it was raspberry tea and I love love love raspberry. I’ve been saving it for when I could sit down and brew a nice pot and enjoy it properly.

(Tea: T2; Rocking Rasberry)

So this morning I was sitting here at the table, enjoying a rare quiet moment at home, and I got to thinking about different kinds of tea (as you do) and jumped up to grab the tea pot...only to realise that I’ve never brewed tea in a pot before. And so with Lisa enlisted as my tea guru, she helped me through the process.

Once I managed to stop playing around with the tea itself (seriously, look at it - it’s so pretty! I was tempted to eat it as it was), I managed to measure it out and brew it up in a teapot I found. Didn’t know I actually HAD a teapot, but still, managed to brew up my tea.

It was a white tea, which I’m not used to but I have to say, I loved this tea to bits. It smelt amazing and was a lovely sweet tea, which led me to go investigate the ingredients a little closer…

And I’m sorry - but do you see ‘tea’ anywhere on that list? Cause I don’t - which leads me to the most exciting thing about this tea present. I learnt a new word! (yes I’m a nerd, but I so love when I stumble across a new word!)

tisane: A herbal tea, tisane, or ptisan is a herbal or plant infusion and usually not made from the leaves of the tea bush (Cameillia sinensis). Like brews made of the tea bush, such infusions are prepared by combining hot water and fruits, leaves, roots or grains. (Wikipedia)

Tea Time

by Rebecca Johnson on Thursday, January 19, 2012

TI was thoroughly spoiled by my work Secret Santa last year and one of the goodies I found in my stocking was a nice box of tea. I was very ...

Wordless Wednesday

by Rebecca Johnson on Wednesday, January 18, 2012

One of the things I like best about being a teacher is that I share a staff room with a large amount of nerdy people. And being an English teacher means that book recommendations are easily come by. While visiting a friend from work, Denise, she retrieved a book from her shelves telling me how much she enjoyed it and that I must read it. Always happy for a book to read (and entering the holidays with lots of reading time making it all the better) I tucked it under my arm to take home.

However it seems that Denise is a little like me when it comes to book recommendations – like me she gets a little excited when people are happy to receive suggestions. I left her house with 13 graphic novels in my possession and the promise of more when I was done.

I’ve been a little busy this holidays after all and haven’t had the chance to sit down and truly enjoy them. But today is a cold rainy day and I’m thinking that I shall settle down for the afternoon with a cup of tea and a collection of comics. What do you think?

Blue Monday, Vol 2: Absolute Beginners - Chynna Clugston-Major
Blue Monday, Vol 3: Inbetween Days - Chynna Clugston-Major
Blue Monday, Vol 4: Painted Moon - Chynna Clugston-Major
9-11: Artists Respond, Vol. 1 - Will Eisner
9-11: Artists Respond, Vol. 2 - Will Eisner
9-11: Emergency Relief - Will Eisner
Y: The Last Man, Vol 1: Unmanned - Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, José Marzán, Jr.
Y: The Last Man, Vol 2: Cycles- Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, José Marzán, Jr.
Y: The Last Man, Vol 3: One Small Step - Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, José Marzán, Jr., Paul Chadwick
Kingdom Come - Mark Ward and Alex Ross’
Wolverine: Origin - Paul Jenkins
Superman/Batman: Absolute Power - Jeph Loeb, Carlos Pacheco, José Merino
Superman/Batman: Supergirl - Jeph Loeb, Michael Turner, Peter Steigerwald