Feathers and fans - a crochet scarf

As promised, here are some photo's (post blocking) of the scarf I made earlier this month to give to my SIL for her birthday.  I was looking for something quite light and airy, as opposed to bulky and heavy as my SIL lives in Brisbane. 

You might be asking yourself, "why did she give a scarf to someone living in Brisbane???" well the answer is, it does get quite nippy in the mornings in winter where she lives - and she is a scarfy kinda person! 

Plus, I am still trying to stick to my giving handmade wherever possible.

After trawling through all the wonderful patterns on Ravelry, I fell in love with this pattern (among many others I might add).  It fit the bill of being light and airy and was gorgeous yet fairly simple to boot. 

I used two skeins of Moda Vera Merino, deliberately keeping the scarf fairly short, again with the light and airy..................

I love how this scarf turned out, sometimes it's a little difficult to give away the things I make......... 

Hmmm, but with all the fantastic patterns available I'm hoping to make one (or two) scarves for myself this winter.

My creative space

My creative space this week includes hooking up this hat for the cooler weather that has finally arrived.

Head on over to kootoyoo for more fantastic creative spaces.

The Good Life

Miss A has had a tremendous start to Term 2, this week bringing home the school "Star Student" trophy.  She was so very chuffed!

This long weekend for me is all about spending some quality time with my family.

Yesterday was spent greening their thumbs, planting Spring bulbs

and picking a posy of flowers from the garden.

Today was spent at Nanna's place baking and baking with a little more baking thrown in. 

And what would Anzac Day be without some Anzac Biscuits.  The first batch dissapeared so quickly a second batch was called for!  And the best bit?  They're allergy friendly!!

We all love them and I like to put a couple in their lunchboxes occasionally as a treat.

Anzac Biscuits 

125g margarine

1 tablespoon golden syrup or treacle

1 teaspoon bi-carb soda

2 tablespoons boiling water

1 cup rolled oats

1cup disiccated coconut

1 cup plain flour

3/4 cup brown sugar

Pre-heat oven to 150 degrees Celcius.  Line two baking trays with baking paper.  Melt marg and golden syrup in a saucepan.  Add bi-carb soda mixed with boiling water.  Combine all remaining dry ingredients in a bowl then add melted mixture.  Mix to a moist but firm consistency.  Drop teaspoonfuls of the mixture onto tray and flatten slightly with a fork.  Bake until golden brown, approx. 15 minutes.  Cool for afew minutes before placing onto a cooling tray.

Lest We Forget

I wonder what adventures tommorrow will bring?

Inspired creativity

A couple of weeks ago I made my first knotty necklace after seeing Marina's great tutorial over at Wink Designs . 

Miss A and Miss B eyed it off for a couple of days until I suggested we sit down together and make them one each.  The second the necklaces were finished they put them on and have worn them religiously every day since, including while we were away (you can see them in the photo's in that post!).

While we were away, staying with my SIL, the children next door spent alot of time playing with my girls.  They admired the necklaces, and their mother complimented and enquired about Miss B's On-the-go Art Satchel!! 

I cannot tell you how great it felt to have someone admire and compliment something I had made before they even knew I had made it!!

I happily agreed to make her girls one each.

So yesterday I sent a lovely little package up to Queensland filled with handmade gifts...............

I think this little combo of an On-the-go Art Satchel and knotty necklace will become my signature gift for any little girls birthday parties we attend this year. 

Yes, I really do think so!

I couldn't resist posting this picture of little Miss B, decked out in a riot of colour - all things that this mama has made.

Do you still get a buzz out of seeing the things you've made being used??

I sure do, and I think it's that buzz, that sense of achievement and satisfaction that keeps driving my desire to continue to create............

This evening I entered two tops I've made recently into the Made by Rae Spring 2010 Top Week competition. 

Sooooo many great tops have already been entered, I've already added afew more projects to my ever growing list.

Here's hoping you get some time to create this long weekend - hope it's a good one

Giving and Receiving (and April One Per Month)

Look what I found waiting for me bright and early this morning!!!

I found a package in the letterbox when I got back from dropping Miss A off at school and it was all I could do to stop myself from running into the house and tearing it open.

I looove this pincushion, especially the size - no more overcrowded pincushion for me thank you very much.  And isn't the choice of fabric just perfect!

The very lovely Mel of from little things... (love that Paul Kelly song by the way) and I were late comers to the Foxs Lane Pincushion Swap so were partnered for a direct swap. 

Not only did Mel send this beauty of a pincushion my way but she also included some very lovely fabric offcuts as well. 

I have to confess I'm not much of a fabric connoisseur but would love to know what the beautiful floral fabric pictured above under the pincushion is?  I know that you will know, so do me a favour and fill me in?

edited to add:  thanks Mel for confirming my suspicions, it is Liberty

As for what I sent Mel's way, well after asking you which pincushion you prefered I went with the firm favourite, the Parisian pincushion.  Thanks to all of you who commented, it made the decision alot easier.

I crocheted up afew little flowers in Mel's favourite colour to throw in along with a packet of pins.

I really love this pincushion and admit readily that I did not come up with the idea myself. 

 I borrowed a book called Sew It Up by Ruth Singer, from the library about 12 months ago and one of the projects in the book was for a pincushion with a ribboned edge like this. 

I absolutely fell in love with it and knew that one day I would give it a go.

And although I don't own this book, I've decided to make this my April One Per Month project as it does come from a craft book and it's a project I've had bookmarked to try for some time.

So there you have it, a very big thank you goes out to the lovely Kate of Foxs Lane, whose blog I always enjoy stopping by.  What an effort; there were almost 120 participants in this swap - wowser!!! 

What fun it has been!

A birthday, a break, a bike and a bucket hat

Well the school holidays have come to an end.

We've all really enjoyed the break, but Miss A seems ready to get back to school.

On the day of my last post we jumped in the car and headed north to Queensland for a weeks holiday with my sister-in-law and her husband.

On the way up to QLD we stopped overnight in Coffs Harbour.  We arrived in the early afternoon and headed straight down to the beach - it was perfect!  Perfect weather, perfect fun.  You can see by the look on the girls faces that they loved every minute of it!

We arrived at my SIL's place Friday afternoon.  Miff and Pete are always such good company.  They live in a semi-rural area and have an extensive garden and a couple of chooks.  Paradise I tell you.  We spent most of our time just lazing around and hanging out.

While we were away we celebrated my dear, sweet little Miss B's fourth birthday.  She had spotted this bike at Kmart a little while ago and fell in love with it.  So we smuggled it up to Brisbane in the boot of the car and last Sunday surprised her with it on her birthday - she was one happy  ecstatic camper!!!

We loaded the bike and a scooter (for Miss A) into the car and headed to Kalinga Park for a morning filled with bike riding and playing at the playground.

In the afternoon we had a party for her.  Miss A and Miss B had re-acquainted themselves upon arrival with the girls next door who are of a similar age, so they and their parents came around for the party.  It was truly a fun afternoon.

I whipped up an allergy friendly Chocolate Cake that morning for the occasion.

On Monday we took a trip into town and visited the Queensland Museum.  What a fantastic space - and FREE entry!

After a fun filled few days we set off for the journey home on Tuesday morning stopping off again in Coffs Harbour for the night.  We spent the afternoon at the beach again but by this time pulling the camera out didn't even occur to me. 

I have to say I really enjoyed having a little bloggy break and just focusing on the family.........

Anywho since getting back home I dusted off the sewing machine and made the requested, yes that's right requested black and white reversible hat for my nephew's tenth birthday. 

I used the Lazy Day hat pattern by Make It Perfect.  I'm very pleased with how it turned out (although I followed Sadieandlances finishing alterations) and definately have plans for making another for myself!

Happy Birthday Mr. Z xoxoxo

Ten years and counting.....

In celebration of ten years of marriage

 and in recognition of how our family has grown and how much you mean to me

a symbol of my love and affection

heartstrings custom necklace

by lisa leonard designs

Pincushion anyone?

Eeny, meeny, miney, moe,

Catch a piggy by the toe,

If he squeals let him go,

                                                   

Eeny, meeny, miney, moe

Which one do you prefer?

To see more pincushion goodness go to the Foxy Pincushion Swap Flickr pool

Happy Easter

Easter making

Easter egg hunting

Easter bunnies

Easter sewing.

Bunnies and clothes made by me, way into the dead of last night.  Even with the exta hour due to day light saving it was a laaaaate night.

Bunnies made from calico and vintage flannelette sheets.

Miss' A and B's top and dress made using this tutorial (I knew I had all those links over on the sidebar for a reason). 

Sweet birdy "Easter'" fabric came home with me from Spotlight the other day. 

It was calling out to me from the bolt "take me, take me, I know you already have enough to do but I'd make such sweet Easter outfits for your little sweetpeas........" 

Hope your day is spent with good food and good company

and my peace be with you, always

My car loving kids

My girls have a tin box full of old matchbox cars, passed down to them from their dad and uncles and cousins which they L.O.V.E.  There have been periods in Miss B's little life where she has played exclusively with them.

Awhile ago I came across this fantastic play mat and was inspired to give something similar a go. 

I've used wool blend felt for the top of the play mat and some fabric I had in the stash for the backing with the tie so we can roll it up and stash it away or take it with us when we go visiting or away.  It is so light weight - fantastic.

I really enjoyed designing the layout - the houses, which are my favourite part, were inspired by the illustrations in an old children's book of my husbands called  "The Blue Bus" by James Kruss, a book I can now recite almost by heart.

And what project wouldn't be complete without some detail as requested by Miss A.  Her imagination and belief in my creative ability really knows no bounds...................  Filling up at the petrol station.

There is another 'zoo' or 'savanah' version all pinned together and just waiting to be stitched in my sewing room..................... but as usual I've decided on a heap of last minute easter sewing, not to mention a certain pincushion waiting to be made, so it will just have to wait!