Splat

A little fun was had with the hook this past week (that doesn't mean the needles haven't still been clicking along!).

Fun colours for a fun project.

Hoping to add a smile to someone's Christmas.

Is a flat cat!

Perfectly practical for the designed purpose.

Splat the coaster cat by Cheezombie

There has been some partying going on around here meaning something has to miss out and it appears that would be computer time.

Hope your week is full of sunshine and fun.

Cutting, sewing and clicking...

Cutting some of the fabric that has been collecting dust on my shelves this past year (or more)!

I like all the colours and the fun prints I found there. Sure I made a big mess pulling things out and rearranging the fabrics to find nice complimentary or contrasting colours and prints.

Sewing some of the previously cut fabrics, it sure was nice to get reacquainted with my sewing machine and this extra long weekend means I may make even more progress on this lot.

The needles are still clicking away in the evening, I'm working on two more socks - one of which will be the Mother's Christmas present.

Bendigo woollen mills Luxury 4 ply in Cerise and Athena 4 ply in Heather - a little pinker in real life than it appears here next to the deep pink.

Hope your week shows all the colours.

Merry Christmas to you

The  tree is decorated,

The wonderful tree in Melbourne's city square

the needles are empty,

as of 2pm today.

and the sun is setting on the eve of  Christmas.

Ready or not here it comes.

May your Christmas be blessed with family and friends.

Relax and enjoy the Day.

A little thread

The past week has been all about Christmas gatherings with friends.

The evening craft group has a little lucky dip swap, the only criteria is that the item needs to be handmade.

I played with a little thread and a teeny hook to hook up some coaster sized doilies.

Current reading material inspired by a lecture by the author

Simple vintage pattern created from a couple of basic stitches.

Totally legitimate copy a lot of Coats patterns are available free on their website as a scanned copy of the original leaflet - much fun. A wonderful feature of these vintage patterns is multiple sizing attained by changing yarn and hook weights and there are quite a few listed on this leaflet.

First one done was a bit slow going, checking directions and counting stitches, not to mention dodgy hook but it turned out looking just like the pattern.

I changed hooks not size, as I totally misplaced the one I started with and the second one was a much better shape for making the combination of pattern and thread.

Dodgy overcast day photo, but you can see that the thread is off white rather than white or cream as it appears in the other pictures.

A set of four coasters received with thanks by Mel.

I was lucky enough to receive a new home for my knitting projects, made by Brianna, but as yet I haven't got a picture.

Wishing you fun and colour in your creative space this week.

Crafty gifts

There's something special about gifts that are very usable especially in the craft room.

Pleasant reminders of those who know and appreciate our creative pursuits.

My new cutting mat came from the Old People, okay so I put an order in a few months back and they remembered.

(Normal really, given the mother brought my first cutting mat and cutter back in the '80's)

My current sock knitting obsession got a good dose of inspiration in this book from J's mum.

Lots of interesting designs in here, as well as useful information.

(If only I can stop drooling and decide which one to start first!)

And she included one of her pretty decorations, unfortunately the reindeer lost his head in my pic.

The gorgeous bracelet came from SJ and while she didn't make it, it is handmade.

Perfect in my favourite purple.

The mild temperatures and blue skies have been perfect for spending time outside, I've been out there with my knitting of course..

Hope your New Year is just perfect for you.

Christmas swaps received

This gorgeous bag was my Christmas day present from Gai in the Advent swap hosted by Fee.

The calendar in the top of the picture was one from the same swap - the second to last present and the Christmas eve present which I have not yet photographed, is a umbrella bag. I'll get that sorted.

Thanks Gai for being a generous partner and Fee for hosting this fun swap.

Below are the gorgeous goodies I received from Sandi in the Christmas Angel swap hosted by Karen.

How sweet is the Christmas banner and the cute fluffy stocking in my favourite red.

A cute babushka tag, lovely fine stitched blossom in the frame, and some gorgeous fabric, buttons, a tape measure, a timely gift considering I broke my other retractable one a few days before Christmas, and pins

A pretty pieced Christmas tree postcard, candle mat and cute owl pin cushion, delicious Lindt chocolates and pretty ribbons and lace wound neatly on dolly pegs.

 A perfect package of goodness. 

Thanks Sandi for being a generous partner and thanks to Karen for hosting this fun swap.

Hope you are enjoying some down time.

Christmas Angel swap sent

to Sandi (no blog)

I gathered all the required goodies - Karen the swap hostess, supplied a list of must haves.

As Sandi indicated her favourite colours as blue and yellow and said her Christmas decorating is limited to red and green, I tried to ensure the gifts fit within these guidelines.

All gathered ready for wrapping and packing.

(In my haste to get the package in the mail I neglected to get a photo of the wrapped goods).

Fabric postcard - using stitchery design from Bronwyn at Red Brolly.

Applique wall hanging - design from Claire Turpin, published in  Australian Homespun No.103 Vol12 No12.

Something yummy - a mini Santa sack with fruit chews and chocolate.

Sandi chose a stocking - front with the naughty elf 

and the other front with Santa - a stitchery design by Bronwyn of Red Brolly teamed with red on red spots.

 

A little mug mat - using a pinwheel and a free gingie design from Michelle Ridgeway.

and on the back this fun stocking print.

A framed stitchery featuring a little tea with friend design from Bronwyn of Red Brolly.

A Christmas tag - design by Vivian Robinson published in Australian Homespun.

Little Decoration - red felt heart with crochet detail and beads.

Something sewing - sprocket pincushion using the pattern from Cluck Cluck sew, reduced a lot.

Candle mat - my own design in Sandi's favourite colours, with a stitched saying and hand appliqued circles. 

The starter kit included some red and green fabric and a pattern for a pin wheel table runner.

I hope Sandi enjoys her goodies as much as I enjoyed creating them for her.

Enjoy the closing days of 2012.

Christmas wishes

Back from the 'Eve' celebration with family and friends and it

looks like I was right to stay calm - Santa's been. Lucky me!

Merry Christmas wishes to You all.

Have a wonderful day with family and friends.

Best I get some sleep before it's time to hit the road again and share lunch with the old people and more family.

Stay safe and cool this Holiday season.

Nearly done

More lovely goodies from Gai in the Advent swap.

Santa tea towels, a pretty bucket, a tin of biscuits and a Christmas tray.

(the paper was looking like Christmas morning, I have dealt with that now)

More deliciousness in fruit chews, a pretty little scissor pocket and scissors, nice Christmas bowls and the Santa candle.

(those yummies will come in handy for the visitors)

Back there is a little Christmas tree, my own personal light show - very pretty.

Today there has been  a little baking - Gingerbread biscuits - Yummy.

Reindeer before, 

and after cooking.

The recipe is in a Childrens Christmas book and is egg free - it is delicious.

A special package - flying off to a new home - may miss the Christmas deadline!

New to me needles for more sock knitting - picked up at the local oppy for total $1.50.

The red ones replace the one the casualty from when I started the sock knitting frenzy back in June, now I have a spare and an unbreakable metal set.

Hope your weekend includes time for socialising.

Creative Christmas

Some hand made Christmas dolls - Annies and angels, with Santa.

The commercial Santa just happened to sit in on the photo too, he used to be my desk ornament when I had a desk job.

(I know the dish is empty, they ate the yummies when I wasn't looking!)

A new project, hoping it will be finished quickly.

Using the pattern Evening Lace from 'Knitted Gifts" edited by Ann Budd, the yarn is Candy by Cleckheaton, an old wool blend boucle yarn that was generously gifted to me.

And...

I was gifted this teapor complete with her gorgeous cosy from one of my craft group friends. It wasn't wrapped  so there was no need to save it for next week.

In all my favourite colours -Sweet.

The pattern is Hanky Panky from 'Really Wild Tea Cosies' by Loani Prior.

Hope it's cool in your corner of the world.

More packages and some Decorating

I collected this package of goodies - Yes, this is what I was greeted with when I opened the box.

I'm not sure I want to disturb them they are so festively arranged.

These are my Christmas Angel swap gifts from Sandi (no blog).

(I am saving them for Christmas, so far I just smile every time I see that gorgeous arrangement)

I have of course still been opening a little, or not so little package from Gai each day, in the Advent Swap and that has been very fun. This week a pack of Christmas cards (must write some of those out), a ham bag, a thread catcher and some embroidery floss, three silver baubles - they remind me of the old disco mirror ball. Thanks Gai.

(I got a little confused, the Santa nd reindeer ornaments are from the first week - I am missing a cute Santa candle holder with candle - Oops!)

I have been doing a little knitting this week and am onto the foot of the second brown sock. 

These are simple anklet socks with a lace pattern in the fold down and rib for the remainder of the sock.

(They're not quite the same, so I may have to keep them for me after all.)

I made a space today for a little decorating and put up my tree.

The little guy is from my Advent swap goodies this week and does a little song and dance (wobble) routine - He sings 'Santa Baby'. Perfect really.

Santa got hung too, I have no clue who the designer was on this one. I brought the design printed on fabric sometime in the nineties, stitched in back stitch.. I dated it 2000, obviously a long term project. Ha ha.

He says - Believe in the Magic of Christmas.

Hope your weekend includes time for celebrating and stitching.