Wish #76 & 77

This interesting envelope arrived from "Down Under." Lynne really outdid herself for the Red Thread Swap. When I opened the envelope - there was a red chord with accompanying papers that described the Chinese tradition of knot-tying, the relevance of using red rope and the modern knot techniques of Chinese Macrame. There were even directions to make the Double Coin Knot, the True Lovers' Knot, the Double Connection Knot and the Ten Knot. I have tried a couple - and I'm just going to have to practice some more.

Lynne also enclosed a card with a description of the Bendigo Joss House in Australia. This house has been a place of worship for Chinese migrants since the 1860's and looks beautiful. For more information about it click here.

Lynne sent two red prints for our swap. She sent a fabric that almost looks hand-dyed and is imprinted with chinese characters for peace, good fortune, wisdom, harmony, dream, love, luck and courage. Her second fabric is of a red sky filled with dancing kites in a rainbow of colors. A smiling sun and a few sheep-shaped clouds make this a very happy print.

She wrote:

"There are many paths in life, all leading every
which way. At times it may be too dark to see the
paths, or we may choose a path that says no
entry. However the paths we choose make for
the people that we are. Without these walks in life
we get bored, tired and stagnant. We lose that
spark that every human being has, that light, that
life. Be who you want to be, walk where you want
to walk, love who you want to love, and make life
what you want to make it." ~ Anonymous

With love and best wishes from
Domenico and Lynne
Sunbury, Australia