Spoils

From a pleasant Friday afternoon spent at the Craft and Sewing Show.

New fabric and scissors - purple to match my Polka Dot bag, which received lots of compliments while playing shopping bag.

A new pattern from a local designer, Leanne Knell of Petals and Patches. I had fun working on one of these designs today.

I picked up this free pattern from the ladies at Dabbles who have lots of ideas for dressing up everyday items.

A fabulous way to start an extra long weekend.

I intend stitching my way through the days.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Polka Dots and Ripple

Take the crocheted Polka Dot bag

Add my version of lining - I sewed up this one with a zippered pocket to keep my hooks and scissors in,

Now I have this perfect project bag and nothing can slip through the cracks.

See perfect for the latest commuter project.

A few days of commute hooking and the ripple blanket is growing up.

Still using baby 4 ply in a soft acrylic/nylon mix. This one is in white and a mint/lemon combination.

Subtle enough for any new born.

I'm joining in the yarn along - I'm reading the same book as last week and listening to 'Heart of the Dreaming' by Di Morrisey, much more listening than reading lately.

Happy creating and reading or listening.

Celebrating...

Ms Nomee is celebrating...

She invited some friends around,

for a little drink.

She even has proof of her age.

I inherited this machine from my grandmother who was a very meticulous record keeper - the receipt is taped inside the back cover of the manual which came with the machine. I really like this hand written receipt which is signed by Mr Reynolds, the printed receipts of today would no longer be legible.

As I use the handy reference book often I am reminded that my faithful sewing machine is now a young lady with lots more stitches in her future.

If you'd like to join the celebrations you can leave a comment here and we will whip up something to send to a lucky someone.

Hope you're celebrating this week.

Playing Hooky

Oh - sure that would be a new project you see in the picture below - at last I started a ripple.

She will be my new commute project as the Giant Granny is done.

I finished all the yarn literally. I have less than 50cm of both the blue and grey and I used all of the white.

Simply edged in a double crochet row of each colour this one is 47 rounds and measures a metre square.

I used 400grams of Baby Grand an easy care acrylic/nylon mix.

Now to weave in all the ends - best I get to it.

Happy Creating

Sew Fest continues

It sure was good to get reacquainted with the sewing machine, we've been avoiding each other lately while I have been obsessed with yarn and hook.

By Sunday afternoon I had sewn all the pieces that I cut on Friday night - they are still works in progress.

The 9 patch blocks spun out and now I have an 11 " square. I am thinking this will feature on a bag but more cutting is required and today was all about sewing.

Next I sewed up these two cute little triangle pouches - way easy.

I'm calling these two finished.

This small bag with a front zip pocket is looking very sweet but I need to decide whether it will get a shoulder strap or a short handle - currently we are at a stand off.

Lastly I stitched a lining complete with pocket for my Polka Dot bag.

Now I just need to attach it and as this is a hand project I think that is what I will work on tonight. I need to be finished for NCB this week, right Cathie?

If you're thinking I spent the entire weekend in the craft room you would be correct.

I managed to fit in some hooking as well and only left the room to make coffee and forage for food.

Hope you had a fun weekend doing what you like best.

Cutting (and sewing)

My Friday night sew in was all about cutting - some mathematical challenges meant that there was no actual sewing.

Lots of little squares and some purse parts.

Fast forward to Saturday and the sewing machine got to work!

Four Mosaic blocks joined to make a 13" square destined to become a cushion.

Four nine patch blocks waiting for their next move!

With rain falling down outside - playing with fabric has been the perfect way to spend my Saturday afternoon.

Thanks to Heidi and Bobbi for hosting FNSI.

Hope your Saturday was spent doing the things you like best.

Random numbers

So the Polka dot blocks became a bag - just like the pattern in my Interweave Crochet magazine. Instead of lining it with another set of polka dots I am going to make a sewn lining - hasn't happened yet but soon, real soon, so here she is just showing off her outer shell.

And there has been a little stitching this past week - some Random Numbers are popping up.

Love this red!

October's Friday Night Sew In is tomorrow night and I really need to kick start my Christmas stitching - I'm going to be there, are you?.

Have a wonderful Friday.

Granny blanket

I am enjoying the simplicity of the Granny blanket for my commute project and a little frivolous bedtime reading, very light and airy. I do enjoy being entertained.

Growing nicely - now at 40 rounds and just over 30 inches square, I'll keep going until those balls are finished.

The yarn is super soft 4 ply baby acrylic and nylon mix making this a very light and durable project.

If you'd like to check out other yarny projects or join in pop on over to Ginny's place.

Hope the sun is shining in your corner of the world,

Delicious

And very late posting these..

A pretty blue version of the crocheted vest for J's mum - she's had it for a couple of weeks already.

Found at my local library this delightful book from Melly and Me - I'm still deciding which critter to make first.

I need to make a decision before I head out for some photocopying, the book is fantastic and there are lots of pictures of each of the critters but the patterns need to be enlarged, unless I want to make miniatures?

There has been a little stitching and lots of hooking happening.

Hope your week is full of fun projects.

Progressing nicely

This week I am putting my purple squares together and adding the finishing touches.

I really like the way this is coming together and I even got some of the squares correct.

I followed the pattern in the my Interweave crochet magazine which I purchased last month, it is the summer edition. As this is an American magazine I understand that means it is a few months old, but perfect timing for our coming summer and there are a few more projects which I would like to try.

There hasn't been much reading, but there has been lots of listening to audio books currently on the go are The Broken Bridge by Phillip Pullman I do enjoy stories where the main characters are teenagers and this one does not disappoint.

I have also been listening to American Scoundrel by Thomas Keneally which is full of lots of detail so have been taking that one in short bursts.

Okay, I'm off to join Ginny and friends in the yarn along. I am inspired each week by the variety of projects others are working on, right after I get back from NCB of course where I get to be inspired by real crafty friends.

Happy creating.

New - yarn and project

Pretty green cotton yarn for a summer top for me and nice soft baby yarn for a new little one.

MsD's first grandchild arrived late September but as he lives somewhere warm I'm thinking I have plenty of time to make a little blanket.

Going with a simple giant granny in three colours, this will be my commute project for as long as it takes to crochet those big balls of yarn.

Fortunately I had the right size hook in my bag so I got started on the way home on the same day I got the yarn, at 50% off - what a deal!

These colours are perfect for a baby boy.

The yarn is an acrylic/nylon mix, it is super soft and easy care.

I really needed to work on a project that is all in one. I already have three projects at the joining stage, I just need a little more at home, awake time to get them connected.

Hope you had a productive Monday and managed to stay dry.

Purple squares

This past week I have been getting in the usual 2x30 minutes crochet sessions on the work commute. I started making purple polka dot squares, I guess the real colours are mauve and violet - just purple to me!

They sure are happy colours to work with.

The squares are small at 3" and come together quickly.

Lined up they look like this.

I have started joining them together instead of waiting until I have the total done.

Should be finished with these this week - a nice quick project, if I don't get distracted by something else? Always a possibility especially when I have more new yarn waiting patiently.

Spent this afternoon with J's mum checking out the NOTY quilt show - I was particularly inspired by the pin cushions which the memebers made for their challenge - lots of creativity there. Sorry no photo's but they will probably have some over on their blog.

Hope you had a fun weekend.

Inspired

Playing along with Favourites over at Quilting in my Pyjamas.

Tonight I took the long walk home - and went via the beach.

While the day was mild the weather was overcast.

I hope you can get an idea from these pictures - children's sand fort and castle - quite an elaborate construction and still in tact even though there had been rain this afternoon.

Shells and rocks placed throughout the construction, along with the leaves and twigs from nearby trees and some seaweed to depict gardens.

It sure was my favourite thing today. Oh, and the fact that I finally recovered from DSL - otherwise known as Daylight Savings Lag - does anybody else get that at the start of Daylight Savings?

I love daylight savings it means there will be more evening beach walks, after a long day at the office, when I can check out what the children have been creating in the sand, but the first week just throws me right out of whack.

You should go on over to the House of Pyjamas and check out some other favourites.

I have still been hooking on the train so there will be an update soon - I think blogger has decided that I am allowed to play again (guess we'll see if this works?).

More new projects and even one finished one!

Hope your week has been a good one.

Have a wonderful weekend wherever you spend it.