Books

I thought i would share with you some of my favourite books. These were bought for me many many years ago for Mothers Day and every year i get them out and make something. either for charity or for gifts.

Pram Blankets

What i am making now is Knitted pram blankets. This is knitted on the diagonal in garter stitch, (every row knit).

and crochet pram blankets. This is just a square in treble crochet.
These should keep me busy for a while.
Both are done using 8 ply yarn.

Birthday

This is the card i received in the post this morning from my little sister Helen,
How purrfect! i love it! it is titled Catnap.
Along with the card was this lovely plush/velvet type fully lined long coat. The colour is like a dark teal. This is the back view.
It is shaped and has silver sequins and silver thread designs on it.
This is the front hem view, showing the lovely black lining through.
This is the front.


It has 4 toggles for fastening, ending at just below the bust. and it falls open from then on.
I love it!
Thank you Helen!!!

Pencil Roll

The Handmade Amoeba is having her first Giveaway, This pencil roll is environmentally good for you! made from recycled materials.
Click on the picture and go to her blog now!

T.Bags and Socks

http://moncherrycraft.blogspot.com/ sent me this delightful handmade card with all these T bags in them. I will keep you all posted on how many have been sent in as soon as i know. Thank you so very much Monique, I feel very blessed indeed.
This is the pair of bed socks i have made for my daughter, 100% pure wool in variegated colours.
I will be posting them off to her today.

Knitting

This is what i made last night. Bed socks. each foot took a ball each of Highlighted Night #125 Yarn Bee wool 100% wool yarn. 50g ball.
This is me wearing them this morning at the computer, lovely and cozy and warm!
the pattern is a very easy one to do and the link is a pdf here
http://www.allsaintsws.org/documents/SeamanInstitute/2008_patterns/SlipperPattern.pdf
i am definitely going to make some more.

Meg and Tilli

Two views of Meg and Tilli in their beds. How Cute!

Christmas Gifts

This is what i have been doing today, Getting some Christmas gifts done for the end of the year party.
Making my own fat 1/4s. Cardboard and fabric.
Fabric and cardboard already cut, 50cm X 50cm squares. Next is ironing them.
Labels designed and printed. 8 to a page on A4 Matt Photo Sticker paper.
Fat 1/4s all ironed and folded onto the cardboard and the labels stuck on.
A stack of 52 fabrics.

Knitting

This is what i have been making.
A knitted baby blanket in red yarn, a crochet blanket in cotton and acrylic mix, and a pair of fingerless gloves in 100% pure 8 ply wool.

Books

Last night i went to Spotlight. (I had a $10 voucher to spend, but i did not check the date, and i was one week early!) but since i was there already i had a look and see if anything took my fancy.
I did find 3 booklets, and at $5 each a bargain! i bought them.

Tilli

Tilli is my Cat of the Day, As i was about to feed them she decided to help herself, Today i think i will call her Tillitubby.

Knitting

The felted bear is almost finished. Just needs a nose now.

Knitting

This is Big Ted before he gets felted. The body is sewn and stuffed leaving an opening in the top of the head, the limbs are pinned on and so are the ears and muzzle.


The teddy has been unpinned and the stuffing out and now the it is being felted.
This is the size of the arms and how it looks before and after. By doing one limb at a time i am able to control the amount of shrinkage needed, both arms need to be the same. Repeat the same thing for the ears.
How i felted it.
Using the sinks in the kitchen, i have the bear part i want to shrink in one sink with pure hand soap, (baby shampoo works well too). I boiled some water in a kettle and poured it onto the bear parts and agitated the wool, (a couple of pairs of rubber gloves on saves your hands from getting scalded). Slamming the item hard down hard also shocks the yarn fibers too. The other sink is for cold water. Alternate between very very hot water and agitating and rubbing the wool and rinsing in cold water until you get the size you want.
Both arms done.
Body now done.
Place them in a towel and roll it up and press to take out excess water. You will need to dry it flat. I have a cast iron table in the back yard that is just right for it as air can get both under and the sun over to help get it dry. Check frequently.
Tilli
Meg.

Knitting

Big Ted, all the parts are knitted, just have to assemble him and stuff him.

Knitting

I thought i would share with you what i am making today, This is an old book, i have had it since my kids were little, (they are all 20 somethings now) and i am making Big Ted.
But he is not in yellow mohair yarn as in the picture, i am using 100% Australian Wool, suitable for felting. I like knitting when the weather is cold, you just sit in your chair all rugged up and knit.

Honey Run Quilters

How lovely is this? a jelly roll and charm pack of Tweet Tweet by Keiki (for Moda). Go to http://honeyrunquilters.blogspot.com/2010/05/little-may-giveaway.html for a chance to win, Hurry, not much time left!

Stitches and Craft Show in Melbourne

I went to the Stitches and Craft Show in Caulfield in Melbourne, and i was not disappointed, In fact i had a wonderful time, (not too late to go you know! Sunday is the last day, I had so much fun i wish i could go again!
It was on 3 floors with the lower floor dedicated to the larger shops and some have been there for many years, good to see them there, the reason i went was just to see the blogging group of crafters, Boy was i happy!! Meeting all the lovely people there in the flesh was just so very very uplifting, my legs were like jelly just to say hello and let them know how lovely to see them and their works in the flesh.
Here are the cards i got from the top picture, i would have LOVED to spend more, but hubby has the purse strings! and even asking for one dollar more was finally getting to him, but i have their cards and will be checking out their blogs and web sites.
www.bluegingerdesigns.com itchybird@dodo.com.au Red parks designs Kate Henderson, such a darling, has two blogs, one for her hand dyed yarn, and one for her softies, www.twolittlebanshees.com a lovely lady who rescues furniture and restores them sustainably, Very cool stuff and beautifully done too.
These are my purchases, Toot Sock Owl Pattern by Craft Schmaft, (i have forgotten your name, sorry.) www.craftschmaft.com.au lovely lovely things, a brooch kit by Juicy Roo Designs, www.juicyroo.com and a braid Plate by TrishAlan Designs dyingforfabricandthreads.com
and last but not least, from Jodie Carleton http://vintagericrac.blogspot.com the following much lusted after patterns, earnest and pebble, zipper-mouth monster, animal house and goodies & baddies.
Jodie was brilliant in her talk about blogging, It was so much fun. If you have the day off, on Sunday, Do go to the Show you will have an absolute ball! All the people there are so lovely in real life too!

Steph's Graduation

I have to show you all this!! My daughter Steph on Wednesday got her Graduation Certificate for Bachelor of Business Accounting.
We went up there to Bathurst in NSW for the ceremony. It was a wonderful 3 days.
We has a wonderful time and we are very proud of what she has done in her achievements.

Today i am off to the Stitches and Craft Show, hopefully to meet some of the lovely ladies and buy some of their lovely crafts and patterns. I will blog about it when i get back. You all have a lovely day.